Correct Option
(D) Asteroids are small, rocky celestial bodies that primarily orbit the Sun within the asteroid belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This region contains numerous irregularly shaped objects, varying significantly in size from a few meters to several hundred kilometers. They are considered remnants from the early solar system that failed to form a planet, largely due to the gravitational perturbations from Jupiter.
Incorrect Options
Meteors are fragments of cosmic dust and rock that enter Earth's atmosphere, burning up due to friction and creating a visible streak of light, often referred to as a "shooting star." This definition describes meteors, not asteroids.
Comets are icy, small solar system bodies that, when passing close to the Sun, warm up and begin to outgas, displaying a visible coma (a thin, fuzzy, temporary atmosphere) and sometimes a tail. They originate primarily from the outer solar system, such as the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud. This describes comets, which are distinct from asteroids due to their icy composition and origin.
Meteorites are meteors that survive their passage through Earth's atmosphere and impact the planet's surface. This definition refers to meteorites, which are the terrestrial remains of meteors, not asteroids themselves.