What Are Comets?

What Are Comets Made Of?

Comets are icy bodies composed of rock, dust, and frozen gases, often described as ‘dirty snowballs’. Their nuclei contain a mixture of water ice, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and various organic compounds. When a comet approaches the Sun, the heat causes these ices to sublimate, forming a glowing coma and sometimes a tail. The coma can extend hundreds of thousands of kilometres, while the tails, one composed of ionised gas and the other of dust, can stretch millions of kilometres into space.

Who Discovered the First Comet?

The first comet discovered by telescope was the Great Comet of 1680 (C/1680 V1), identified by German astronomer Gottfried Kirch. This discovery marked a significant advancement in cometary studies, as it was the first time a comet was observed through a telescope, allowing for more detailed observations.

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How Do Comets Form?

Comets are believed to be leftover building blocks from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. They form in the outer regions of the solar system, primarily in the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. When a comet's orbit brings it close to the Sun, the heat causes the ice to vaporise, creating a glowing coma. The coma can be thousands of miles wide, much larger than the nucleus. The tail of a comet always points away from the Sun due to the pressure of sunlight and the solar wind. Some comets break apart when they get too close to the Sun.

Which Is the Largest Comet?

The largest known comet is Comet C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli–Berger), which was discovered in 2014. Its nucleus is estimated to be about 137 kilometres (85 miles) in diameter. making it the largest comet ever observed. This comet is currently on a long journey through the solar system and is not expected to come close to the Sun for many thousands of years.

Which Is the Smallest Comet?

The smallest known comet is Comet 2P/Encke, with a nucleus that is only about 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) in diameter. Despite its small size, Comet Encke has one of the shortest orbital periods of any known comet, completing an orbit around the Sun approximately every 3.3 years.

Fun Facts About Comets

• Two Tails: Comets have two distinct tails: a dust tail and an ion tail. The dust tail is made up of small particles from the comet's nucleus, while the ion tail is composed of ionised gas.
  
• Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9: In 1994, Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 collided with Jupiter, providing astronomers with a rare opportunity to study the effects of a comet impact.
  
• Comet Lovejoy's Discovery: Comet Lovejoy was first identified by amateur astronomer Terry Lovejoy in August 2014. It was found to contain alcohol and simple sugar, making it the first known comet to include these compounds.
  
• Historic Observations: The Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the Norman Conquest of England, features a depiction of Halley's Comet.
  
• Mark Twain's Prediction: Mark Twain famously predicted that he would die when Halley's Comet next appeared in 1910. He died the following year.

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