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SAI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Class8
Lesson Notes
Subject-Physics
CH- Stars and Solar system
Subtopic- Other members of solar system

Other Members of the Solar System
 Asteroids

Asteroids in Space
 Like other planets, there are certain celestial bodies that are found in the solar
system. Asteroids are small rock-like objects that are found orbiting the sun.
 They are generally found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This region is
also called the Asteroid belt. However, asteroids can also be found in other places in
the solar system.

 Comet
 Comets are big pieces of ice and rock that also revolve
around the sun in highly elliptical shaped orbits.
 Comets are the leftover pieces of rocks that were
formed at the time when the solar system was
beginning its formation.
 Comets are often observed to have a tail. This tail
appears as a comet approaches the sun.
 At that time, dust and gas are discharged from the
comet due to the heat of the sun. Since the comet is
approaching the sun, the tail of the comet is always in
the opposite direction of the sun.
 As the distance between the sun and the comet
increases the size of the tail of the comet also
increases.
 Since comets revolve around the sun they can be
viewed at periodic times from the Earth.
 For example, Halley's Comet appears after every 76
years. It was last viewed in 1986