Compare and contrast an asteroid and a comet.

I will be happy to critique your thinking.

for comparisons: both orbit the sun, both have the same origination

for contrasts: comets made of ice and dirt, asteroid made of rock; comets are mostly in the Kuiper Belt, asteroids in the asteroid belt; comets have an elliptical orbit, asteroids have a circular orbit

That's all I can think of but I think I need more.

can we see any asteroids with the naked eye? What about comets (think on tails).

To compare and contrast an asteroid and a comet, we need to understand their similarities and differences in terms of their characteristics, composition, and origins.

Similarities:

1. Celestial Objects: Both asteroids and comets are objects that exist in space.

2. Rocky Bodies: Both asteroids and comets are made up of rock and metal.

Differences:

1. Composition: Asteroids are predominantly composed of rocky and metallic materials, such as iron and nickel. On the other hand, comets consist of a mixture of rocky materials, water ice, frozen gases (like methane and ammonia), and dust particles.

2. Size and Shape: Asteroids are generally smaller in size, ranging from a few feet to several hundred miles across, with irregular shapes. Comets, on the other hand, can vary greatly in size, ranging from several miles to tens of miles in diameter, usually having a more spherical shape.

3. Orbits: Asteroids typically have well-defined orbits around the Sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Comets, on the other hand, have elongated elliptical orbits. They originate from two primary sources: Kuiper Belt (beyond Neptune) and Oort Cloud (far beyond the outermost planets).

4. Surface Features: Asteroids have rough and craggy surfaces due to their solid composition, while comets often have smoother surfaces with prominent features like jets, gas and dust tails, and coma (a glowing atmosphere surrounding the nucleus).

5. Volatility: Asteroids are relatively stable and do not display significant volatile activity. In contrast, comets are known for their volatile behavior. When they approach the Sun, the heat causes the icy nucleus to vaporize and release gases and dust, forming a glowing coma and tail.

In summary, asteroids and comets differ in their composition, size, shape, orbits, surface features, and volatile behavior. To understand these differences, one can study their known properties, characteristics, and behavior through scientific observations and research conducted by astronomers and space missions.