Which space object is a large, irregularly shaped body that orbits the Sun?

• A. Meteor
• B. Planet
• C. Asteroid
• D. Comet

Answer: (C)

Objects in space that orbit the Sun come in different shapes and sizes. When a rocky body is large enough to act like a lump of rock rather than being pulled into a smooth sphere, it stays irregular in shape and continues to orbit the Sun. This describes an asteroid. Meteors are small fragments that burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, so they aren’t large bodies that orbit the Sun. Planets are big enough and shaped by gravity to become near-spheres, which isn’t the irregular shape described. Comets are icy and develop a bright coma and tail when near the Sun, which is a different feature than just being a large irregular rock in orbit. So the object that fits the description is an asteroid.