What is the difference between a meteor and a comet?

While both meteors and comets are celestial bodies that can be seen in the sky, they are actually quite different from each other. A meteor, also known as a shooting star, is a streak of light that occurs when a small piece of interplanetary debris burns up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere. This debris is usually the size of a grain of sand or a pebble, and it travels through space at high speeds.

A comet, on the other hand, is a small, icy body that orbits the sun. Comets are made up of dust, ice, and rock, and they can range in size from a few meters to tens of kilometers in diameter. When a comet gets close to the sun, it heats up and releases gas and dust, which forms a bright, glowing tail.

While meteors and comets are different, they are related in that many meteors come from the debris left behind by comets. When a comet passes through the inner solar system, it leaves a trail of debris behind it. When the Earth passes through this debris trail, the debris burns up in the atmosphere, creating a meteor shower.