Asteroids are small, rocky bodies that orbit the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. They vary in size and shape, with some being large enough to be considered dwarf planets if they were spherical.
Comets: Icy bodies that release gas and dust, forming a glowing coma and sometimes a tail as they approach the Sun.
Meteorites: Fragments of asteroids or comets that survive passage through Earth's atmosphere and land on its surface.
Planetary Defense: Strategies and technologies developed to detect, track, and potentially deflect hazardous near-Earth objects.