Aball of ice, rock, dust, and gas that orbits the sun is called a(n)
comet.
asteroid.
meteor.
meteorite.

Asteroids are balls of ice, rock and gas that orbits the Sun. They are called asteroids because they are small planets within the solar system. They are believed to be shattered remnants of planetisimals or bodies within the young sun’s solar nebula that never grew large to become a planet. A comet is composed of a ball of icy crystals that when it passes the sun; it will heat up, burn and forms gases as it leaves called a tail. Meteors are remnants of the particles from asteroids and comets that enter the earth at a very high speed. The result is the burning up of these matter, they are sometimes called “shooting star’.