Short-period comets, which typically have orbits lasting less than 200 years, are primarily influenced by the gravitational pull of the large planets, particularly Jupiter. As these comets approach the inner solar system, their orbits are shaped by interactions with these massive bodies, leading to more predictable and less randomly oriented paths. The gravitational influence of Jupiter tends to align their orbits in a more consistent plane, resulting in a clustering of their trajectories in the ecliptic plane. This contrasts with long-period comets, which originate from the Oort Cloud and can have orbits in various orientations.
Comets can be classified into two main types: short-period comets, which have orbits of less than 200 years and originate from the Kuiper Belt; and long-period comets, which have orbits of more than 200 years and originate from the Oort Cloud. Additionally, there are also sungrazing comets, which pass extremely close to the Sun.
Long period comets (orbits of more than 200 years) are thought to have originated in the Oort cloud.
Comets can travel varying distances depending on their orbits. Some comets have orbits that take them far out into the outer solar system, while others have short-period orbits that keep them closer to the sun. Some comets can travel billions of miles during their journey through the solar system.
Comets with extremely elliptical orbits like Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp are known as long-period comets. They have orbits that take them far out into the solar system, sometimes beyond the outer planets, before returning back towards the Sun. These comets can take decades or even centuries to complete a single orbit.
Short-period comets originate from the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune filled with icy debris, or from the scattered disk, which is a distant region beyond the Kuiper Belt. These comets have orbits that last less than 200 years and are affected by the gravity of the outer planets.
Comets can be classified into two main types: short-period comets, which have orbits of less than 200 years and originate from the Kuiper Belt; and long-period comets, which have orbits of more than 200 years and originate from the Oort Cloud. Additionally, there are also sungrazing comets, which pass extremely close to the Sun.
Long period comets (orbits of more than 200 years) are thought to have originated in the Oort cloud.
Comets can travel varying distances depending on their orbits. Some comets have orbits that take them far out into the outer solar system, while others have short-period orbits that keep them closer to the sun. Some comets can travel billions of miles during their journey through the solar system.
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.
Short period comets that originate beyond the orbit of Neptune but are generally moving level with the orbits of the other planets are in the Kuiper Belt. The Kuiper Belt is a region of the outer solar system that contains icy bodies, including comets, that orbit the Sun beyond Neptune.
Comets with extremely elliptical orbits like Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp are known as long-period comets. They have orbits that take them far out into the solar system, sometimes beyond the outer planets, before returning back towards the Sun. These comets can take decades or even centuries to complete a single orbit.
Kuiper Belt
Short-period comets originate from the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune filled with icy debris, or from the scattered disk, which is a distant region beyond the Kuiper Belt. These comets have orbits that last less than 200 years and are affected by the gravity of the outer planets.
no, comets do not orbit Earth. If comets did orbit Earth, it would be Earths Moon's, but comets orbit the kuiper belt at the edge of the Solar System. Some times comets hit each other and get knocked out of their orbit and possibly hit a planet.
Short period comets are thought to originate in the Kuiper Belt, outside the orbit of Neptune.Long period comets originate in the Oort Cloud, which is far more distant, about half way to the nearest star!Comets, as with any astronomical body, can have its orbit perturbed (changed) by external gravitational forces. Long period comets can become short period and vice versa. The orbits can range from a few tens of years to many thousands, some can even escape altogether.
Comets with a return period less than 200 years are arbitrarily called short period comets.No comets are currently known with an orbital eccentricity significantly greater than 1, so they are all considered to be solar system visitors.Some from the Kuiper belt, and some from further out called the Oort Cloud.The longest period comets may have return periods of greater than 1 million years, but maybe their orbits become so perturbed by other masses in their lifetime, that they never return to Sol.
short period comets