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Away from the sun
The Tail of a Comet always points Away from the Sun.

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Why do comet tails point in different directions?

A comet is comprised mostly of ice. The tail of the comet is caused by cosmic winds, from our sun, blasting particles off the comet's surface, the tail does NOT point in the opposite direction of travel, as one might expect, but points directly away from the source of the solar winds. That's why a comets tail, (from our perspective) may be traveling in a certain direction but have it's tail pointing in the SAME direction.


Does a comet's tail always point 180 degrees away from its direction of travel?

Yes, a comet's tail always points away from the sun due to the solar wind. As the comet travels in its orbit, the pressure of the solar wind pushes the gas and dust in the tail away from the sun, creating the iconic tail that points in the opposite direction of the comet's movement.


A tail still exists in the direction of the sun when a comet moves away from the sun?

No, a comet's tail always points away from the sun regardless of the comet's direction of movement. This is due to the solar wind pushing gas and dust particles away from the comet's nucleus, creating the tail that always faces away from the sun.


Why does the comet tail point away from the sun?

The sun ejects solar winds which move much faster than any comet. This causes a stream of material (the tail) to point away from the Sun, irrespective of the direction the comet is travelling. The Sun's radiation may also have an effect. (Source: Wikipedia)Bad definition!


What is a comet tall?

A comet tail is a stream of gas and dust that is released from the nucleus of a comet as it approaches the Sun. The tail is formed when solar radiation and the solar wind cause the comet's ices to sublimate, creating a glowing envelope of gas and particles. Comets typically have two types of tails: a dust tail, which is curved and made of small particles, and an ion tail, which is straight and composed of charged gas. The tails always point away from the Sun, regardless of the direction of the comet's travel.

Related Questions

Why do comet tails point in different directions?

A comet is comprised mostly of ice. The tail of the comet is caused by cosmic winds, from our sun, blasting particles off the comet's surface, the tail does NOT point in the opposite direction of travel, as one might expect, but points directly away from the source of the solar winds. That's why a comets tail, (from our perspective) may be traveling in a certain direction but have it's tail pointing in the SAME direction.


Does a comet's tail always point 180 degrees away from its direction of travel?

Yes, a comet's tail always points away from the sun due to the solar wind. As the comet travels in its orbit, the pressure of the solar wind pushes the gas and dust in the tail away from the sun, creating the iconic tail that points in the opposite direction of the comet's movement.


A tail still exists in the direction of the sun when a comet moves away from the sun?

No, a comet's tail always points away from the sun regardless of the comet's direction of movement. This is due to the solar wind pushing gas and dust particles away from the comet's nucleus, creating the tail that always faces away from the sun.


Why does the comet tail point away from the sun?

The sun ejects solar winds which move much faster than any comet. This causes a stream of material (the tail) to point away from the Sun, irrespective of the direction the comet is travelling. The Sun's radiation may also have an effect. (Source: Wikipedia)Bad definition!


What kind of tail of a comet always points away from the sun?

The dust tail and the gas tail BOTH point away from the Sun (or in the direction of the Solar Wind). As the gas tail is a little less dense, its point is a little more directly away.


What way do comet tales point?

A comet's tail points away from the sun


What is a comet tall?

A comet tail is a stream of gas and dust that is released from the nucleus of a comet as it approaches the Sun. The tail is formed when solar radiation and the solar wind cause the comet's ices to sublimate, creating a glowing envelope of gas and particles. Comets typically have two types of tails: a dust tail, which is curved and made of small particles, and an ion tail, which is straight and composed of charged gas. The tails always point away from the Sun, regardless of the direction of the comet's travel.


A comet's ion tail always extends?

A comets ion or gas tail always extends away from the sun, as it is effected more by the solar wind from the sun. The dust tail follows the orbit of the comet, streaming behind the comet - where the comet has been.


Do comet tails face the sun?

No, a comet's tail always faces away from the sun/


Which comet tail always points away from the sun?

The ion tail of a comet always points directly away from the sun due to the solar wind pushing charged particles emitted by the comet.


Comets tail always point toward the sun?

No. Comets tails always point away from the sun. I believe the are a result of the heat and solar winds projected out from the sun which strip material off from the comet as it travels through space.


If a comets ion tail is pointing perpendicular to its direction of travel the comet is?

Close to or at perihelion.