The universe consists of a huge number of cosmic bodies. Every night, we can behold stars in the sky that seem very small, although this is not so. In fact, some of them are many times larger than the Sun. It is assumed that a planetary system is formed near each lonely star. So, for example, a solar system was formed near the Sun, consisting of eight large, as well as small and dwarf planets, comets, black holes, cosmic dust, etc.
Earth is a cosmic body, since it is a planet, a spherical object that reflects sunlight. Seven other planets are also visible to us only because they reflect the light of a star. In addition to Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, which until 2006 was also considered a planet, the solar system also contains a huge number of asteroids, which are also called minor planets. Their number reaches 400 thousand, but many scientists agree that there are more than a billion of them.
Comets are also cosmic bodies moving along elongated trajectories and approaching the Sun at a certain time. They consist of gas, plasma and dust; overgrown with ice, reach a size of tens of kilometers. Approaching the star, comets are gradually melting. From high temperature, the ice evaporates, forming a head and tail, reaching amazing sizes.
Asteroids are the cosmic bodies of the solar system, also called minor planets. Their main part is concentrated between Mars and Jupiter. They consist of iron and stone and are divided into two types: light and dark. The first ones are lighter, the second ones are heavier. Asteroids have an irregular shape. It is assumed that they were formed from the remnants of cosmic matter after the formation of the main planets, or they are fragments of a planet located between Mars and Jupiter.
Some cosmic bodies reach the Earth, but, passing through the thick layers of the atmosphere, during friction break up and break into small parts. Therefore, relatively small meteorites fell on our planet. This phenomenon is by no means uncommon, fragments of asteroids are stored in many museums in the world, they were found in 3, 500 places.
In space, there are not only large objects, but also tiny ones. For example, meteoroids are called bodies up to 10 m in size. Cosmic dust is even smaller, up to 100 microns in size. It appears in the atmospheres of stars as a result of gas emissions or explosions. Not all cosmic bodies are investigated by scientists. These include black holes that exist in almost every galaxy. It is impossible to see them, it is only possible to determine their location. Black holes have a very strong attraction, so they do not even let go of themselves. They absorb huge volumes of hot gas annually.
Cosmic bodies have different shapes, sizes, locations in relation to the Sun. Some of them are combined into separate groups to make it easier to classify. So, for example, asteroids located between the Kuiper belt and Jupiter are called Centaurs. Between the Sun and Mercury, it is assumed that Volcanoes are located, although not a single object has yet been discovered.
