sedna and io are the two minor planets of our solar system that have the most eccentric orbits.
sedna and io are the two minor planets of our solar system that have the most eccentric orbits.
which two minor planets of our solar system have the most eccentric orbits?
sedna
Na
Na
when discovered, asteroids were seen as a class of objects distinct from comets, and there was no unified term for the two until "small solar system body" was coined by the iau in 2006. the main difference between an asteroid and a comet is that a comet shows a coma due to sublimation of near-surface ices by solar radiation. a few objects have ended up being dual-listed because they were first classified as minor planets but later showed evidence of cometary activity. conversely, some (perhaps all) comets are eventually depleted of their surface volatile ices and develop the appearance of asteroids. a further distinction is that comets typically have more eccentric orbits than most asteroids; most "asteroids" with notably eccentric orbits are probably dormant or extinct comets. also, they are theorized to be common objects amongst the celestial bodies orbiting close to the sun.
extinct comet