do asteroids and comets orbit the sun

Discovery Space: Comets Comets are essentially chunks of dirt and ice. They have changed even less than asteroids since the beginning of the solar system. Therefore, comets can provide valuable information about their origin. Comets are celestial bodies that are invisible until they near the sun. Some comets have short orbital periods and are thought … Read more

Asteroids and Comets Asteroids and comets are probably remnants from the time the solar system formed. Consequently, they are fascinating to science, providing clues to the early life of the solar system. Asteroids Asteroids are irregularly shaped boulders, usually less than 60 miles (100 km) in diameter. They orbit the sun, generally in slightly elliptical … Read more