Asteroids, Comets & Meteors - NASA Solar System Exploration
Our solar system’s small bodies – asteroids, comets, and meteors – pack big surprises. These chunks of rock, ice, and metal are leftovers from the formation of our solar system 4.6 billion …
In Depth | 1P/Halley – NASA Solar System Exploration
Until the time of English astronomer Edmond Halley (1656-1742), comets were believed to make only one pass through the solar system. But in 1705, Halley used Isaac Newton's theories of …
In Depth | Oumuamua – NASA Solar System Exploration
The first known interstellar object to visit our solar system, 1I/2017 U1 ‘Oumuamua, was discovered Oct. 19, 2017 by the University of Hawaii’s Pan-STARRS1 telescope, funded by …
In Depth | Our Solar System – NASA Solar System Exploration
Our solar system consists of our star, the Sun, and everything bound to it by gravity – the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune; dwarf planets such as …
RPS 3D Viewer - NASA Solar System Exploration
Oct 21, 2025 · Asteroids, Comets & Meteors About Asteroids, Comets & Meteors BY TYPE Meteors & Meteorites Asteroids Comets
In Depth | Perseids – NASA Solar System Exploration
When comets come around the Sun, they leave a dusty trail behind them. Every year Earth passes through these debris trails, which allows the bits to collide with our atmosphere and …
Bibliography - NASA Solar System Exploration
Apr 23, 2024 · Other Sources NASA Technical Reports Server: http://ntrs.nasa.gov Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000: …
Directory - NASA Solar System Exploration
Jan 9, 2020 · Asteroids, Comets & Meteors About Asteroids, Comets & Meteors BY TYPE Meteors & Meteorites Asteroids Comets
In Depth | C/2012 S1 (ISON) – NASA Solar System Exploration
Comets that are regular visitors such as comet Halley are designated with P for periodic comets, meaning its orbital period is less than 200 years. 2012 marks the year of discovery.
In Depth | 19P/Borrelly – NASA Solar System Exploration
Comets are usually named for their discoverer (s) or for the name of the observatory or telescope used in the discovery. Since Alphonse Borrelly discovered this comet, it is named after him.