WEEK

8 Comets, Asteroids and Meteoroids

Lesson
I
In this lesson, you will understand the characteristics of comets, meteors
and asteroids. After going through this lesson, you are expected to compare and
contrast the comets, meteors and asteroids, predict the appearance of comets
based on recorded data of previous, and explain the regular occurrence of meteor
showers.
Recent advances in space technology have allowed scientists coming from
different background such as physics, chemistry, biology, and geology to
collaborate on studying Near-Earth Objects (NEO) such as comets and asteroids.
With more powerful telescopes and space probes, the study of comets and
asteroids provides more clues about the origins of our solar system. Over the past
three years, amateur and professional astronomers have discovered several NEOs
that came close to Earth, the most recent asteroid being Asteroid 2012 DA14. It
made a very close approach to Earth as it orbited the Sun on February 16, 2012
(Philippine Time). In the morning of the same day, an asteroid entered Earth’s
atmosphere and exploded over Lake Chebarkul in Russia hurting about 1,000
people in the process. These two events triggered superstitions, fears, and
doomsday prophecies held by different cultures.
Comets and asteroids are referred to by astronomers as Near-Earth
Objects (NEO). Comets are icy bodies or objects while asteroids are rocky
fragments. Comets and asteroids are the remnants from the formation of the solar
system 4.6 billion years ago.
The table below summarizes the similarities and differences between
comets and asteroids.
Table 1. Comparison of some characteristics of comets and asteroids.

Characteristic Comet Asteroid

Origin Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud Main Asteroid Belt
Shape Varied/Irregular Varied/Irregular
Size range of 1-10 (nucleus only) 1 – 100++
diameter (kilometer)
Chemical Ice (frozen water); frozen gases (ammonia, Silicates (olivine and
composition methane, and carbon dioxide); other organic compounds pyroxene), iron, nickel
(Carbon-containing compounds)

Orbit Highly elliptical More rounded

Orbital period (years) 75 to 100,000++ 1-100

Comets and asteroids have irregular shapes and varied sizes. They both
reflect light from the sun at varying amounts depending on the size and
composition. Silicates are minerals which contain the elements silicon, oxygen
and at least one metal which is responsible for comets and asteroids to be able
to reflect light.

Comet Asteroid

PIVOT 4A CALABARZON Science G8 34

 Comet and asteroids both orbit the sun. Comets usually come from the
Oort Cloud which is beyond our solar system, and a few from Kuiper Belt which
is just beyond Neptune’s orbit. Long-period comets come from the Oort Cloud,
while short-period comets come from Kuiper Belt.

Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud Main Asteroid Belt

D
Learning Task 1: Identify if the statement is True or False. Write their
corresponding numbers on the TRUE or FALSE box below.
1. A comet is a ball of mostly iced that moves around in the outer space.
2. Comets are believed to be in long elliptical orbits.
3. Comets can come back into view from time to time.
4. Comets are same with meteors.
5. Asteroids orbit the sun.

TRUE FALSE

Read the paragraphs below. Prepare a summary for each paragraph. Write your
answer in your answer sheet.
Comet Halley is the most famous comet of the 20 th
century. Only known as the short-period comet. It takes 75-
79 years for Comet Haley to orbit the Sun. Comets are
actually dark and invisible. When the comet is near the
sun, it becomes visible because tails are formed. When a
comet is approaching the sun, its ion tail is behind it but
Comet Haley when it is moving away from the sun, its ion tail goes ahead
of it. Halley's Comet will next appear in the night sky in the
year 2062. Halley's Comet was recorded by Edmund Halley in 1682. It was seen
again in 1758, 1835, 1910, and 1986.
Most asteroids, on the other hand, originate from the Main
Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. This belt is
theorized by scientists as remnants of a planet that did not
completely form. The orbit of an asteroid is more rounded
and less elliptical than the orbit of a comet. In February
2013, Asteroid 2012 DA14 made a very close
Asteroid 2012 DA14
approach to Earth as it orbited the Sun.
35 PIVOT 4A CALABARZON Science G8
 Distance in space is measured in light years
and this asteroid was just 0.4 light year away from
Earth, the closest distance that any asteroid has ever
been to Earth. In December 2012, during the midst of
the doomsday prophecies, Asteroid Toutatis also made
a near approach to Earth but not as close as Asteroid
2012 DA14. Asteroid Toutatis

On the other hand, meteoroid is a small rock or

particle debris in the solar system. Ranging in
size from dust to around 10 meters in
diameters. Meteoroids often enter the Earth’s
atmosphere. A meteoroid that burns up as it
passes through the Earth’s atmosphere is
known as a meteor (shooting star). A meteoroid
that survives falling through the Earth
atmosphere and colliding with the Earth
surface is known as a meteorite. Approximately
500 meteorites reach the Earth’s surface every
year but of those only around 5 ever make it to scientists for study. The Earth’s
atmosphere experiences millions of meteors every day. When many meteors occur
in a close time frame in the same part of the sky it is called a meteor shower.
Learning Task 2: Complete the following table. answer the questions below.
Object Description Location/Movement
Comet
Asteroid
Meteoroid
1. Explain what happen to a meteoroid in order for it to become a meteorite.
2. How can you distinguish asteroids from a comet?
From the list below, choose the term that best completes each sentence.
Asteroid Asteroid Belt Comet
Meteor Meteoroid Meteorite
3. When a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere, friction causes it to burn up and
produce a streak of light called a(n). _______________________
4. A chunk of ice and dust whose orbit is usually a long narrow ellipse is a(n).
_________________________
5. If a meteoroid hits Earth’s surface, it is called a(n). _________________________.
6. An object that revolves around the sun, but is too small to be considered a
planet, is a(n). __________________________.
7. A chunk of rock or dust in space that usually comes from a comet or an
asteroid is called a(n). ___________________________
8. The region of the solar system between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter is known
as the ___________________.
Learning Task 3: Read and understand the given information below. Fill out the
Venn diagram. Write your answer in your answer sheet. Have your parents/
guardian sign your work.
There is a huge asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that has millions of
asteroids in it. Asteroids are small “bodies” that orbit a larger object in space. But
they are different from the moons of a planet. Asteroids can have carbon, stone or
metal in them.

PIVOT 4A CALABARZON Science G8 36

 A comet is a small object with elliptical orbit hat has collected ice and
cosmic dust and other gases, like helium, methane and hydrogen. As it comes
closer to the sun, it heats up, it blows off all kinds of materials or combustible
materials such as methane that was in the form of ice for next and later release
light that is processed to be the tail of the comet. The most famous comet in the
night sky is Halley’s comet, which orbits once every 78 years.

Comets Asteroids
Comets
&
Asteroids

Made of frozen ice gas and Have long gas tail Also known as planetoids
dust
Made of rock and/or metal Have long dust tail Surrounded by hydrogen cloud
Orbit the Sun Have a long ion tail Have no atmosphere
Ceres is the biggest Have no tail Part of our solar system
Halley is one Highly elliptical orbit Sun grazers are ones that crash into the
sun
Some come close to the Most orbit between Some have hit the Earth
earth Mars and Jupiter

A meteor is a particle of space dust or rock that passes the earth’s

atmosphere in the sky. Meteor showers occur when many pass at the same time.
If a meteor survives and impacts Earth, it is called a meteorite. Most people
commonly refer to them as falling stars.

E
Learning Task 4: Place a check mark () in your answer sheet to indicate
characteristics of asteroids, comets, and meteors.
Meteor Meteorite Elliptical Orbit

Comets Meteors Asteroids

A
Learning Task 5: Define the following terms in your own words. Write your
answer in a separate sheet of paper.
Asteroid Comet Meteor
Appears as a streak of light in the sky
Frozen ball of dust
Is visible in our sky
Made up of rock
Orbits the sun
Orbits between Jupiter and Mars
Often called “shooting stars”
Usually burns up the Earth’s atmosphere

37 PIVOT 4A CALABARZON Science G8

 Personal Assessment on Learner’s Level of Performance

Using the symbols below, choose one which best

describes your experience in working on each given task.
Draw it in the column for Level of Performance (LP). Be
guided by the descriptions below.

- I was able to do/perform the task without any difficulty. The task
helped me in understanding the target content/lesson.
- I was able to do/perform the task. It was quite challenging but it still
helped me in understanding the target content/lesson.
- I was not able to do/perform the task. It was extremely difficult. I need
additional enrichment activities to be able to do/perform this task.

Distribution of Learning Tasks Per Week for Quarter 2

Week 1 LP Week 2 LP Week 3 LP Week 4 LP
Learning Task 1 Learning Task 1 Learning Task 1 Learning Task 1

Learning Task 2 Learning Task 2 Learning Task 2 Learning Task 2

Learning Task 3 Learning Task 3 Learning Task 3 Learning Task 3
Learning Task 4 Learning Task 4 Learning Task 4 Learning Task 4

Learning Task 5 Learning Task 5 Learning Task 5 Learning Task 5

Learning Task 6 Learning Task 6 Learning Task 6 Learning Task 6

Learning Task 7 Learning Task 7 Learning Task 7 Learning Task 7
Learning Task 8 Learning Task 8 Learning Task 8 Learning Task 8
Week 5 LP Week 6 LP Week 7 LP Week 8 LP
Learning Task 1 Learning Task 1 Learning Task 1 Learning Task 1

Learning Task 2 Learning Task 2 Learning Task 2 Learning Task 2

Learning Task 3 Learning Task 3 Learning Task 3 Learning Task 3

Learning Task 4 Learning Task 4 Learning Task 4 Learning Task 4

Learning Task 5 Learning Task 5 Learning Task 5 Learning Task 5
Learning Task 6 Learning Task 6 Learning Task 6 Learning Task 6
Learning Task 7 Learning Task 7 Learning Task 7 Learning Task 7
Learning Task 8 Learning Task 8 Learning Task 8 Learning Task 8

Note: If the lesson is designed for two or more weeks as shown in the eartag, just copy your
personal evaluation indicated in the first Level of Performance found in the second column
up to the succeeding columns, ie. if the lesson is designed for weeks 4-6, just copy your
personal evaluation indicated in the LP column for week 4, week 5 and week 6. Thank you.

PIVOT 4A CALABARZON Science G8 38