“The asteroid had a spectacular tail.”
Usage Entry 1303 / 1350 60-second read
Comet vs. Asteroid
A frozen-ice-and-dust body with a tail when near the Sun versus a rocky/metallic body (no tail).
The comparisoni
“The comet had a spectacular tail — only comets develop tails. Asteroids are rocky/metallic and tailless.”
The ruleii
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COMET = ice/tail. ASTEROID = rock/no tail.
COMET is an icy body from the outer solar system — when close to the Sun, its ice sublimates, producing a bright tail. ASTEROID is a rocky or metallic body, mostly between Mars and Jupiter — no tail, no outgassing. Halley's is a comet; Vesta is an asteroid.
Memory aidiii
Remember it like this
Comet trails. Asteroid rocks.