Answer: Comets are believed to have two sources. Long-period comets (those which take more than 200 years to complete an orbit around the Sun) originate from the Oort Cloud
Oort cloud
The Oort cloud, named after the Dutch astronomer Jan Oort, sometimes called the Öpik–Oort cloud, is a theoretical cloud of predominantly icy planetesimals proposed to surround the Sun at distances ranging from 2,000 to 200,000 AU. It is divided into two regions: a disc-shaped inner Oort cloud and a spherical outer Oort cloud. Both regions lie beyond the heliosphere and in interstellar spa…
What are the different types of comets?
Comets are generally believed to fall into one of two categories: short-period and long-period. Short-period comets, also known as periodic comets, typically take less than 200 years to complete a full orbit.
How long does it take a comet to complete a orbit?
Short-period comets, also known as periodic comets, typically take less than 200 years to complete a full orbit. These comets generally follow the same path as other planets and solar system bodies, traveling as far away as the planets of Jupiter and Neptune.
What is the difference between comets and asteroids?
Another of the differences between comets and asteroids is in their proximity to the sun. Generally speaking, comets can be found further from the sun than asteroids, which explains the difference in composition. This distance from the sun has allowed comets to form and maintain ice.
How far do comets travel through the universe?
These comets generally follow the same path as other planets and solar system bodies, traveling as far away as the planets of Jupiter and Neptune. As short-period comets travel close to these larger planets, they are exposed to additional gravitational pull. Long-period comets complete a full orbit somewhere between 200 and 1,000 years.
What is the difference between a comet and an asteroids?
As previously mentioned, comets consist of ice, rock, dust, and other organic compounds, while asteroids are made up of only rocks and minerals . Because of this composition, these two astronomical bodies also react differently to the sun and its heat. Comets become smaller with time, as the ice within begins to melt. Asteroids, however, maintain their size and do not lose material as they pass by the sun.
What are the two types of comets?
Comets are generally believed to fall into one of two categories: short-period and long-period.
What Are Comets Made Of?
These objects are made up of ice, ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, rock, dust, and other organic compounds. Because of this composition, comets are often referred to as “dirty snowballs”. The materials that form comets originated with the formation of the solar system, which took place around 4.5 billion years ago.
What Are Asteroids Made Of?
Asteroids are made up primarily of minerals and rocks. Scientists believe that asteroids consist of the remains of materials that never grew large enough to be considered a planet.
How does a comet form?
This nucleus is surrounded by a coma, which is a large cloud of gas, water, and dust. The coma is formed when the comet passes close to the sun. The heat from the sun causes the ice in the comet to melt and vaporize, this vapor is then pulled away from the nucleus by solar wind and radiation pressure. The resulting effect is often referred to as a comet tail, which tends to point away from the sun. This process means that each time a comet comes closer to the sun, it becomes smaller as it loses material.
How long does it take for a comet to complete its orbit?
Long-period comets complete a full orbit somewhere between 200 and 1,000 years. Not only do these solar system bodies take longer to make a complete orbit, but they also take an elliptical rather than circular path. The gravitational pull from larger planets may cause long-period comets to be forced outside of the solar system entirely.
What are the three spectral categories of asteroids?
Asteroids were originally separated into three spectral categories: dark, stony, and neither. Over the years, these categories have expanded as new types of asteroids have been discovered.
