An icy piece of rock or rock fragment moving through space is known as a?

Answer 1

a Comet!

Answer 2

Objects in space which contain rock are usually referred to as asteroids. Objects composed entirely of water, carbon dioxide and other frozen gasses are known as comets. I suppose there is some overlap, but technically a comet must decompose as it nears its closest approach to the sun. A solid rocky object would not, and there would be no comet head or comet tail seen. If the object struck the earth, it would be classified as a meteorite no matter what its composition. There is a theory that the earth's oceans are the result of comets striking the earth.

Answer 3

If it is a solid, rocky object it is an Asteroid. If it is composed mostly of ice it is a comet or a meteor. Comets fly in defined orbits and also sluff off ice particles and dust as they make their journey around the Sun. When meteors enter the Earth's atmosphere, most of them burn up in bright displays. Those that don't, and actually strike the Earth's surface are called meteorites.

Answer 4

If it's ICE (i.e. sublimating and producing a tail) it's a comet. If it is rock (i.e. remains solid with no sublimation during its orbit), AND if it's orbiting the sun (or some other star) it's an asteroid. If it's just traveling randomly through space, it's a meteoroid. When the meteoroid impacts the atmosphere and heats up, it becomes a meteor. When (if) it impacts the earth's surface, it is a meteorite.

Answer 5

A comet

Answer 6

It is a comet if it comes back on a regular bases but if it is burning up on its trip towards earth, then it is called a shooting star.

Answer 7

I'm pretty sure it's a comet

Answer 8

usually comet

Answer 9

comet

Answer 10

comet