Two mountain ranges on Pluto were named after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first individuals confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. 27. What are the differences between asteroids and comets ? Asteroids are composed of rocks and metals, while comets contain a lot of ice along with rocks and hydrocarbons. Asteroids are found mostly in Kuiper belt beyond the orbit of Neptune and in Oort cloud in outer Solar System, while comets are found in the belt between Mars and Jupiter. The surface of asteroids is solid and stable, whereas the surface of comets is very unstable and changeable. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

- Statement 1 is correct: Asteroids are primarily composed of rock and metal and are denser. Comets are often described as "dirty snowballs" because they are made of ice, dust, and rocky materials, containing significant amounts of frozen water and hydrocarbons. - Statement 2 is incorrect: The typical locations are swapped. Asteroids are predominantly found in the main asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Comets originate mostly from the outer solar system reservoirs like the Kuiper Belt (beyond Neptune's orbit) and the Oort Cloud (a theoretical sphere much further out). - Statement 3 is correct: Asteroids are solid, rocky bodies with relatively stable surfaces. Comets, when they approach the Sun, heat up, causing the ice within them to sublimate (turn directly into gas). This process creates a temporary atmosphere (coma) and often a tail, making their surface highly active and changeable.