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The gasses liberated in the comet's tail are very diffuse. So it takes many trips of a comet about the sun to bleed off a lot of mass, unless the comet passes sufficiently close to the sun (or collides with it or with something else).
Eventually the comet would become a much smaller, rocky body, sort of like an asteroid. All the water vapor, methane, and ammonia will have bled off.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoComets lose mass every time they are close to the sun, because they contain volatile substances which boil off when they are heated. When a comet has lost enough mass, the remaining mass will disintegrate into a cloud of meteoric debris. But this can take more than just several trips.
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What does Halley's comet orbit besides the sun?
Halley's Comet orbits the Sun, in an elliptical path. It doesn't orbit anything else.
What did comet halley do?
Halley's Comet orbits around the sun.
Is halleys comet part of the solar system?
Yes. Halley's Comet is a comet that orbits our sun, and the definition of "Part of the solar system" is 'Any object that orbits our sun.'
What body has the fastest orbital speed as it orbits the sun asteroid or comet?
comet
Does a comets speed change as it orbits the sun?
Yes. Comets have highly elliptical orbits. They move fastest when they are nearest the sun and slowest when they are farthest away.
What does Halley's comet orbit besides the sun?
Halley's Comet orbits the Sun, in an elliptical path. It doesn't orbit anything else.
What did comet halley do?
Halley's Comet orbits around the sun.
Is halleys comet part of the solar system?
Yes. Halley's Comet is a comet that orbits our sun, and the definition of "Part of the solar system" is 'Any object that orbits our sun.'
A dirty snowball that orbits the sun?
comet
What is an icy mass that orbits the sun called?
An icy mass that orbits the sun is called a comet.
What body has the fastest orbital speed as it orbits the sun asteroid or comet?
comet
Rock liquid or gas that orbits the sun?
A Comet :)
Does a comets speed change as it orbits the sun?
Yes. Comets have highly elliptical orbits. They move fastest when they are nearest the sun and slowest when they are farthest away.
What is a ball of ice dust and gasses that travels through space and orbits the sun?
a comet/meteorite
What are the changes that occur as a comet orbits the sun?
it gets a tail
Does Halleys comet orbits earth in an elongated ellipse?
The Orbit of Comet Halley is an elongate ellipse, yes, but it does not orbit earth - it orbits the sun.
Can you catch a comet?
No. A comet is at least several miles across and orbits the sun and extremely high speeds.
