Moons: More Than Just Companions
Some moons may be among the most promising places to search for life.
Examples:
Europa – subsurface ocean
Enceladus – water plumes
Titan – complex organic chemistry
Asteroids
Asteroids are rocky remnants from planet formation, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Some cross Earth’s orbit, making them important to track.
Comets
Comets are icy bodies from the outer solar system. When they approach the Sun, they develop:
A glowing coma
Long tails pointing away from the Sun
They may have delivered water and organic molecules to early Earth.
Meteors, Meteoroids & Meteorites
Meteoroid: In space
Meteor: Burning in atmosphere
Meteorite: Reaches the ground
Key Takeaways
Small bodies preserve solar system history
Moons may host life
Impacts shaped Earth’s evolution