Which body in the solar system is referred to as an icy mud ball?

The phrase "icy mud ball" refers specifically to comets, which are composed primarily of ice, dust, and rocky material. When comets approach the Sun, they heat up and begin to release gases and dust, forming a glowing envelope called a coma and often a tail. This behavior is due to their icy composition, which sublimates (turns directly from solid to gas) when exposed to solar radiation.

In contrast, asteroids are primarily made up of rock and metal and do not have the same icy characteristics as comets. Meteorites are pieces of asteroids or comets that survive their passage through Earth's atmosphere and land on the surface, while meteoroids are smaller fragments of asteroids or comets traveling through space. Understanding these distinctions emphasizes why comets are uniquely described as "icy mud balls" due to their composition and the phenomena that occur when they are near the Sun.