Why are comets and asteroids scientifically important?

Comets and asteroids hold significant scientific interest because they represent relatively unchanged remnant debris from the solar system's formation process approximately 4.6 billion years ago. Comets are the leftover pieces from the formation of giant outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), which formed from an agglomeration of billions of comets. Similarly, asteroids are remnants from the initial agglomeration process that formed the inner planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. By studying these celestial objects, scientists can gain valuable insights into our solar system's origins and the formation processes of both inner and outer planets, essentially providing a window into our cosmic history.