What is the main difference between a comet and an asteroid?
Their composition
Comets and asteroids are celestial bodies that orbit the Sun, but they mainly differ in their composition. Comets, often called "shooting stars," are made of ice, dust, and organic compounds, which allows them to form a luminous atmosphere and a characteristic tail when they approach the Sun. Asteroids, on the other hand, are primarily rocky or metallic. This distinction has significant implications for the study of the formation and evolution of our solar system.
