Embedded Files
Distance from Earth
Distance from Earth
- Comet Halley changes position as it orbits the Sun.
- The closest Comet Halley ever came to Earth was 0.033 AU away. This is the same as 3.07 million miles or 4.94 million kilometers away.
- It would take about 124 hours or 5 days to get from Earth to the closest distance between Earth and Comet Halley by spacecraft.
Size and Shape
Size and Shape
Size
Size
- Comet Halley is shaped like an oval. It is about 9.3 miles long and 5 miles wide.
- Comet Halley has a long tail of ice and dust that can stretch up to 60,000 miles or more.
Shape
Shape
- Comets have irregular shapes. They are all different and none of them are perfect spheres (round).
- The main body of Comet Halley is is surrounded by a cloud of dust and ice that trails behind it like a tail.
Light and Temperature
Light and Temperature
Light
Light
- Like other comets, Comet Halley does not produce light. Light from the Sun reflects off its surface.
Temperature
Temperature
- The temperature on the surface of Comet Halley is about 134°F .
- This is about 2.3 times colder than the average temperature on Earth.
Other Facts
Other Facts
- The Russian VEGA and the European Giotto spacecraft were able to fly by Comet Halley, take photographs, and accurately measure its temperature. The photographs provide evidence of the Comet’s size.
- Comet Halley passes by Earth roughly every 76 years.
- This photo of Comet Halley (left) was taken in the year 1910.
Page updated
Report abuse