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What is a comet tail & coma?
A comet tail and coma are visible features of a comet when they are illuminated by the Sun and may become visible from Earth when a comet passes through the inner Solar System.
Sep 12, 2024 · Comets release gases when passing near the Sun. They vaporize surface ices within 2-3 AU of the Sun. The released gases create a bright tail. Comets appear as fuzzy balls with tails when visible from Earth. Comets formed 4.6 billion years ago in the early solar system. They are composed of ice and dust.
Jul 15, 2014 · Comets develop tails as they approach perihelion—the place in their orbits when they are closest to the Sun. The Sun’s heat vaporizes some of the comet's material, releasing dust particles that were trapped in the ice.
The pressure of sunlight and high-speed solar particles (solar wind) can blow the coma dust and gas away from the Sun, sometimes forming a long, bright tail. Comets actually have two tails – a dust tail and an ion (gas) tail.
Oct 16, 2023 · The tail reflects the sunlight and swoops behind the comet as it moves, giving the comet’s tail a curve. The closer a comet gets to the Sun, the longer and brighter its tail will grow.
1 day ago · An ion tail typically presents a notable bluish color, in stark contrast to the hazy white hue of a dust tail. If it’s a bright comet, there might even be a third tail called the anti-tail. This ...
5 days ago · As dust and gases stream away from the nucleus, sunlight and particles coming from the Sun push them into a bright tail that stretches behind the comet for millions of miles. When astronomers look closely, they find that comets actually have two separate tails.
