What are Asteroids and Comets Made Of?

There are many different types of asteroid classification systems in use, making the classification and refers to a little confusing, even for astronomers. An important feature common to all systems that include three categories - carbon, known as type C, representing 85% of known asteroids, S silicaceous or rocky-type, which represents 17% of known asteroids and metal, called L -type or X-type, making up the rest at 8% of known asteroids. These types are usually divided into several subgroups based on spectral classification, albedo, and guesses about their composition. Some special types of categorization, for example, types Q, R, and V-are so rare they are a single asteroid.

As June 4, 2007, 376,537 asteroids and minor planets have been discovered with a record of about 5,000 bodies a month in November. It is estimated that between 1.1 and 1.9 million asteroids with a diameter greater than 1 km in the solar system, and many billions with a diameter greater than 10 m. Despite its representations in literature, in the asteroid belt between Mars and orbit Jupiter is very close - only provided a higher density of asteroids any other part of the solar system. Imagine a body that is only 1/1000th the size of the Earth divided into small pieces and scattered over a large area slightly larger than the orbit around Mars. This is the asteroid belt. The way the bodies of the solar system interact gravity, this area is a place of "sweet" for the waste to the end until

Comets are actually among the darkest objects in the solar system, despite its reputation as bright bodies reflect only 3% - 5% of light received. In comparison, asphalt reflects 7% of the light. The black organic compounds which are made of comets - long chains of carbon-containing molecules such as hydrocarbons. Imagine a ball of material similar to oil or coal. Comets also contain large amounts of ice and dust. For most of their careers, comets are Pitch Black - It is only when they closely approach their magnificent Sunday ion tail is flying. Most comets have highly elliptical orbits that come close to the sun for several months and the use or hundreds of thousands of years deep in the solar system.

High-carbon asteroids and comets may be useful for future effort, space for colonization. In future asteroids could be removed and processed to generate molecular material gardens in space colonies. Nitrogen will continue to come from planets or moons, however.