Question 1: The Perseid meteors are made up of what material?
- Asteroids and dark matter
- Ice and rock
- Plasma and gas
Correct Answer: Ice and rock
Fact: Meteors are the particles and chunks left over from shattered asteroids that rush through space. When they collide with our atmosphere, they disintegrate in a colorful, fiery light display.
Question 2: What is the difference between a meteor, a meteorite, and a meteoroid?
- Weight
- Flavor
- Size
Correct Answer: Size
Fact: Prepare to be amazed—these three are different phases of the same object! It works like this: A meteoroid speeds through space until it enters the atmosphere, burning away as a meteor and impacting the ground as a meteorite. Now say 'meteorite, meteor, meteoroid' three times fast.
Question 3: What is a minor planet that orbits the sun called?
- Asteroid
- Event horizon
- Meteor
Correct Answer: Asteroid
Fact: Asteroids have ongoing orbits around the sun, while meteors are untethered, rushing through space until they collide with another object or burn up in a planet's atmosphere. This isn't the case with asteroids because they lack an atmosphere.