Comets

Comets: The Icy Visitors

Imagine a giant, dirty snowball flying through space. That's a comet! Comets are made of ice, dust, and rock. They orbit the Sun in long, oval-shaped paths.

A Comet's Tale

As a comet gets closer to the Sun, it heats up. The ice and dust start to vaporize, creating a glowing cloud around the comet called a coma. The Sun's radiation and solar wind also push the dust and gas away from the comet, forming a long, beautiful tail.

Famous Comets

One of the most famous comets is Halley's Comet. It visits Earth about every 75 years. Another famous comet is Hale-Bopp, which was a spectacular sight in the night sky in 1997.

So, the next time you see a bright streak in the night sky, it might be a comet, a visitor from the icy depths of space!