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The increased solar wind pushes off more and more vapor and dust from the nucleus of the comet, and the tail stretches out further into space - 200 million miles is not uncommon. But even at that, the amount of solids in a cometary tail of that length is estimated to be less than would fill a standard size suitcase. One astronomer observed that a comet's tail was "as close as you can get to absolutely nothing, and still have something".

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Comets are invisible except when they are near what?

Comets become visible when they are closer to the sun and begin to heat up, causing them to develop a visible coma and tail. This closer proximity to the sun typically occurs in the inner solar system, where they become brighter and more conspicuous.


How does a comet develop a tail?

a comet gets a tail as it gets closer to the sun, due to solar winds.


What happens when comets near the sun?

A comet's tail lengthens as it approaches the sun due to greater solar winds. A comets tail always faces away from the sun.


What mass of material with a long tail travels around the sun?

The mass of material with a long tail that travels around the sun is called a comet. Comets are composed of ice, dust, and small rocky particles. The tail of a comet is formed when it gets closer to the sun, and the heat causes the ice to vaporize and create a glowing tail. The mass of a comet can range from a few million kilograms to billions of kilograms.


Why the tail of comets increase or deacrese as it goes round the sun?

The tail of the comets is caused by the solar wind - particles blown away form the Sun. When the comet is closer to the Sun, the solar wind becomes stronger.


What do we see comets as?

Comets are seen as bright, icy bodies that orbit the Sun. When they get closer to the Sun, they release gas and dust in a glowing coma and often develop a tail that points away from the Sun due to solar wind.


Do comets or asteroids have a gas tail?

Comets!


Do comets emit light?

Yes, comets emit light through a process called outgassing, where ices on the surface vaporize as the comet gets closer to the Sun. Sunlight reflects off the gases and dust surrounding the comet, creating a glowing halo or tail.


What kind of body in space has a long tail?

A comet - as it gets closer to the sun.


Gives comets their tails?

The tail of the comet is made up of melting ice. When the comet gets close to the sun, the melted ice becomes the gaseous tail.


Which heavenly bodies appear in the sky at regular bit long intervals and have a tail?

Comets are the celestial bodies that appear in the sky at regular but long intervals and have a tail. This tail forms as a comet gets closer to the sun, causing ice and dust to vaporize and stream away from the comet, creating a bright extended tail.


Why does an asteroid not develop a tail when its closer to the sun?

Comets develop a tail as the sun's energy vaporizes substances such as ice and dry ice that form the comet. Asteroids lack these substances and so do not devlop tails.