What is the classification of objects that orbit the Sun but are too small to be considered planets?

Prepare for the GACE Middle Grades Science Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

The classification of objects that orbit the Sun but are too small to be considered planets is indeed asteroids. Asteroids are primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and are composed mainly of rock and metal. They can vary in size but are generally larger than meteoroids, which are smaller fragments that can enter the Earth's atmosphere and potentially become meteors.

While moons are natural satellites that orbit planets, they are not direct orbits around the Sun. Comets, on the other hand, are composed of ice, dust, and rocky material and have highly elliptical orbits that bring them close to the Sun, producing a visible tail. Thus, asteroids are the correct classification for these small celestial bodies that share an orbit around the Sun.

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