Comets vs. asteroids: Here are 7 differences between the two very common objects

SCIENCE

BY CHRISTOPHER McFADDEN

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1. Asteroids are typically rocky bodies from the asteroid belt.

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2. Comets, on the other hand, may come from the Oort Cloud and are icy.

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3. Asteroids tend to be named by an international panel, comets after their discoverers.

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4. Comets tend to have tails; asteroids typically don't.

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5. But it can get tricky to make a distinction between the two.

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6. Comets can also make micro asteroids.

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7. There are even hybrids between comets and asteroids out there.

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