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The formation of a comet's tail is caused by the heat from the Sun. As a comet approaches the Sun, its icy nucleus heats up and releases gas and dust into space. The solar wind then pushes this material away from the nucleus, creating the characteristic tail that points away from the Sun.
Although the common perception is that the tail of a comet streams out behind the comet, like dust being left behind as the comet roars through space; in reality, the tail of the comet is really the solar wind blowing the debris off of the comet. Because solar wind is coming from the direction of the sun, a comet's tail always faces away from the sun and is not necessarily "flowing" behind the comet.
the formation of comets tails are made by particles or the comet that flack off and go behind it and as they go behind it they turn to dust that's all the comets tail is.
A Comet tail and coma are illuminated by the Sun and may become visible from Earth when a comet passes through the inner solar system, the dust reflecting sunlight directly and the gases glowing from ionisation. Most comets are too faint to be visible without the aid of a telescope, but a few each decade become bright enough to be visible to the naked eye.
Dust and ionised gases boiled or stripped off the core of the comet by the suns thermal heating of the core.
These ejected materials are then pushed away from the core (and the Sun) by the solar wind (slowed down or speed up depending weather the comet is approaching or leaving the sun) while the heavy core maintains a constant speed.
This results in a gradual separation of the ejected material form the core forming a tail to the comet (which always points away form the sun).
The variation in mass between the dust and ionised gasses means that the two can be separated by the solar wind (like a chromatography separation) giving the comet two tails (of different colours).
Obviously the material in the tail reflects sunlight which is why we can see it.
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Do comets or asteroids have a gas tail?
Comets!
How did Comet west change the way astronomers think about comets or the solar system?
Comet West was remarkable in its brightness and tail formation, providing astronomers with valuable data to study the composition and behavior of comets. It helped to confirm that comets are made of ice and dust, and its disintegration provided insights into the dynamics of comets in the solar system. Overall, Comet West contributed to advancing our understanding of comets' role in the formation and evolution of the solar system.
What causes comas to form around comets?
Comas form around comets when they approach the Sun and heat causes volatile compounds within the comet to vaporize and escape, creating a surrounding cloud of gas and dust. This process is known as outgassing, and it gives comets their characteristic glowing halo.
This has a tail when it is near to the sun?
Comets
Scientific explanation of comets?
Comets are small, icy bodies that orbit the Sun. When a comet approaches the Sun, the heat causes its ice and other volatile substances to vaporize, creating a glowing coma and sometimes a tail that points away from the Sun due to solar wind. Comets are believed to be remnants from the early solar system and can provide important insights into its formation and evolution.
What causes a comets tail?
because of the sun's solar wind.
Do comets or asteroids have a gas tail?
Comets!
What causes a comets to have a tail?
The dust and rocks that come off the comet often catch on fire and leave a trail.
How did Comet west change the way astronomers think about comets or the solar system?
Comet West was remarkable in its brightness and tail formation, providing astronomers with valuable data to study the composition and behavior of comets. It helped to confirm that comets are made of ice and dust, and its disintegration provided insights into the dynamics of comets in the solar system. Overall, Comet West contributed to advancing our understanding of comets' role in the formation and evolution of the solar system.
What three things are comets made of?
Comets are made of mainly 3 parts -dust tail, ion tail and coma
What causes comas to form around comets?
Comas form around comets when they approach the Sun and heat causes volatile compounds within the comet to vaporize and escape, creating a surrounding cloud of gas and dust. This process is known as outgassing, and it gives comets their characteristic glowing halo.
This has a tail when it is near to the sun?
Comets
What did the tail of comet points?
A Comets tail points away from the sun.
Why do comets develop a tail?
because of their velocity
A comets tail points is where?
Away from the Sun.
What is a comets tail hardly made of?
gas
What do you call a comets tail?
Its called FRICTION
