Phaethon, the source of the Geminid meteor shower, has intrigued scientists for years because it's an asteroid that behaves like a comet.
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Phaethon, the source of the Geminid meteor shower, has intrigued scientists for years because it's an asteroid that behaves like a comet. New research may reveal the reason why this oddball gets so bright as it approaches the sun.
Asteroids and comets both orbit the sun, but asteroids are made of metals and rocky material while comets are made of different kinds of ice, rock and dust. When their orbits bring comets closer to the sun, they heat up. These frozen objects from the edge of the solar system release dust and rock as their ices vaporize, creating signature tails that can stretch for millions of miles.
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