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Their heads begin to glow and a long tail forms
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
As comets approach the sun, they undergo several changes. The increase in temperature causes the icy nucleus of the comet to vaporize, creating a glowing coma around it. This coma is often accompanied by a tail pointing away from the sun due to the solar wind's effects on the released gas and dust. Additionally, the intense heat can cause the comet to fragment or even disintegrate completely.
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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.
Do comets orbit mars and Jupiter?
No. Comets orbit the sun. Many asteroids orbit the sun in between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Do all comets have tails?
Because they aren't traveling towards the sun. Comet tails are caused by debries being burned off.
How many comets does Mars have?
There are no comets that orbit the planet Mars. Comets, some, orbit the sun. Mars on the other hand does have two moons, Phobos and Deimos.
Are comets harder to see when they approach the sun?
yes, because as it approaches light it will be harder to see the light flowing behind it therefore it wood be harder to see a comet if it closer to the sun
Do comets change form over time?
They won't change form, but willslowly thaw and disperse: their tails are of material streaming from their surfaces as they approach the Sun.
Why are comets not seen both the time on going towards sun and away from it?
They are. We generally first see comets as they approach the Sun and become visible; if the comet survives the near approach to the Sun, we can continue to see them as they move away from the Sun. Depending on the comet's orbit as compared to the Earth's, we sometimes can't see the comet very well until after it is already moving away from the Sun. And of course, the first three comets discovered in 2010 were all discovered by satellites watching the Sun - as the comets fell INTO the Sun.
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.
How are comets and the sun related?
comets orbit the sun
Do comets orbit Jupiter?
Comets orbit the Sun.
Do comets orbit mars and Jupiter?
No. Comets orbit the sun. Many asteroids orbit the sun in between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
What are 2 physical properties of comets?
the bright cloud of gas that surrounds their nuclei as they approach the sun makes the surface difficult to determine.
Do all comets have tails?
Because they aren't traveling towards the sun. Comet tails are caused by debries being burned off.
How many comets does Mars have?
There are no comets that orbit the planet Mars. Comets, some, orbit the sun. Mars on the other hand does have two moons, Phobos and Deimos.
Do comets orbit asteroids?
No. Comets orbit the sun.
Are comets harder to see when they approach the sun?
yes, because as it approaches light it will be harder to see the light flowing behind it therefore it wood be harder to see a comet if it closer to the sun
Does Mercury's close proximity to the Sun create bright comets?
No. Mercury has nothing to do with comets. Comets are objects that orbit the sun independent of the planets.
