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Comets are classified by the size of their orbits. As soon as a comet is discovered, astronomers make measurements of its position to try to settle what orbit the comet is in. Many comets with an orbital period up to 100 years are in elongated elliptical orbits that extend out to Neptune's orbit and beyond.

The faster comets with longer period might come from the Oort cloud at distances up to 1 light year or even further.

A small class of comets come from outside the solar system and these are noted by their high speed and hyperbolic orbits which show they will make one visit and disappear off again.

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