Sam was gazing through a telescope and notice a bright spot moving fast through the sky.
On closer examination, he observed the spot was followed by a stream of dust. What did Sam most likely observe? (1 point)
An asteroid
A comet
A meteor
a moon
Select ALL that apply
A comet
A meteor
Sam most likely observed:
1. An asteroid
2. A comet
To determine what Sam most likely observed, we need to understand the characteristics and behaviors of asteroids, comets, meteors, and moons.
1. Asteroid: An asteroid is a rocky object that orbits the Sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. If Sam observed a bright spot moving fast through the sky without a visible tail or stream of dust, it is less likely to be an asteroid.
2. Comet: A comet is a celestial object consisting of a nucleus (solid core) made of ice, dust, and rocky material. As a comet approaches the Sun, the heat causes the nucleus to vaporize, leading to the formation of a glowing coma (the bright spot) and a tail comprised of dust and gas. Therefore, if Sam observed a bright spot accompanied by a stream of dust, it is likely that he observed a comet.
3. Meteor: A meteor refers to the visible streak of light produced when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns up due to friction. If Sam observed a bright spot moving fast through the sky with a stream of dust, it is possible that it was a meteor. However, it is important to note that meteors generally do not exhibit a persistent stream of dust.
4. Moon: A moon is a natural satellite that orbits a planet. Moons do not typically exhibit the characteristics described by Sam, such as a bright spot accompanied by a stream of dust.
Based on these explanations, the most likely answer is B. A comet.