A comet is a loose collection of ice, dust, and small rocky particles that, in contrast to an asteroid, has an extended atmosphere surrounding the center. When passing close to the Sun, this atmosphere warms and begins to release gases forming a visible coma or tail.
Which of the following is the primary difference between a comet and an asteroid?
comets orbit the Sun |
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asteroids have a coma |
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asteroids contain frozen water |
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comets have an atmosphere |