What is is the difference between the orbit of a comet and the orbit of a planet?

Answer 1

Comets have elliptical orbits as do planets, in general a comets orbit is more elliptical than a planets orbit. In some cases far more, insomuch as they are temporary visitors to our solar system.

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Comets are small bodies of rock and ice which are in a highly eccentric orbit around the sun. They spend most of their time slowly orbiting the sun, far out beyond the outer planets. Their orbit eventually brings them closer to the sun where they can then be seen more easily as the sun heats the surface and causes gas and dust to come away from the comet. Planets have much more regular orbits, their distance from the sun varies too, but to a much lesser degree. Planets orbits dont cross each others, and they are all on a similar plane. comets orbits are not always on the planetary plane and will cross the orbits of many planets throughout their eccentric orbit.

Answer 2

A comet is much smaller than a planet, and therefore the gravitational forces from surrounding objects (such as planets and moons) have a far greater effect on the orbit.

So a comet's course can be changed (sometimes significantly) as it passes relatively near to something with a higher gravitational pull.

Answer 3

Comets are small bodies of rock and ice which are in a highly eccentric orbit around the sun. They spend most of their time slowly orbiting the sun, far out beyond the outer planets. Their orbit eventually brings them closer to the sun where they can then be seen more easily as the sun heats the surface and causes gas and dust to come away from the comet. Planets have much more regular orbits, their distance from the sun varies too, but to a much lesser degree. Planets orbits dont cross each others, and they are all on a similar plane. comets orbits are not always on the planetary plane and will cross the orbits of many planets throughout their eccentric orbit.

Answer 4

Comets have highly eccentric orbits around the sun. They spend most of their time slowly orbiting the sun, far out beyond the outer planets. Their orbit eventually brings them closer to the sun where they can then be seen more easily as the sun heats the surface and causes gas and dust to come away from the comet.

Planets have much more regular orbits, their distance from the sun varies too, but to a much lesser degree. Planets orbits dont cross each others, and they are all on a similar plane. comets orbits are not always on the planetary plane.

Answer 5

the orbit of a planet has its own orbit, meaning it rotates around the sun . a comet just passes by anywhere, no specificly going in a certain orbit..

Answer 6

Comets orbits are highly elliptical and some take millions of years, because until they get to Jupiter, they go as fast as a 747 (Long period comets)

Answer 7

The orbit of a comet is much more long and stretched out than that of a planet, like an oval. I believe it's called an "eliptical" shape.

Answer 8

A planet typically has a more regular orbit, staying closer to the same distance from the sun. A comet's orbit will be more elliptical, going very far away and then coming really close.