Question 1

What is a comet?

Accepted Answer

A comet is a space object made of ice, dust, and rock. When it gets close to the Sun, it glows and may look like it has a tail.

Question 2

Where do comets come from?

Accepted Answer

Comets come from two main places: the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. These are areas far out in space filled with icy bodies.

Question 3

Why do comets have tails?

Accepted Answer

Comets have tails because when they get near the Sun, the heat makes their ice turn into gas, which looks like a glowing tail.

Question 4

Have comets ever hit Earth?

Accepted Answer

Yes, comets have hit Earth in the past, but it's very rare. Most comets stay far away from our planet.

Question 5

How big are comets?

Accepted Answer

Comets can be quite small or really big! Some are just a few hundred meters wide, while others can be as big as a mountain.

Question 6

What would happen if a comet hit Earth?

Accepted Answer

If a big comet hit Earth, it could cause a lot of damage. It might create a huge explosion and change the climate for a while.

Question 7

Did a comet really kill the dinosaurs?

Accepted Answer

Scientists think it was actually a big asteroid, not a comet, that hit Earth and led to the dinosaurs' extinction.

Question 8

How do scientists study comets?

Accepted Answer

Scientists use telescopes to look at comets from Earth and send spacecraft to take pictures and gather information about them.

Question 9

What's the most famous comet?

Accepted Answer

The most famous comet is probably Halley's Comet. It can be seen from Earth about every 76 years when it comes close to the Sun.

Question 10

Can we see comets with our eyes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, sometimes comets can be seen without a telescope when they are close to Earth. They often look like bright stars with tails.

Question 11

Why do comets glow?

Accepted Answer

Comets glow because the Sun heats them up, making their ice turn into bright gas and dust, which reflects sunlight.

Question 12

What is a comet's nucleus?

Accepted Answer

A comet's nucleus is the solid center made mostly of ice and rock. It's the part that's covered when the comet forms a glowing head and tail.

Question 13

What are comet tails made of?

Accepted Answer

Comet tails are made of gas and dust. The gas comes from the ice melting, and the dust comes from tiny rock particles.

Question 14

Do all comets have the same shape?

Accepted Answer

No, comets can have different shapes. Some are round, while others might look like a potato or an uneven rock.

Question 15

How fast do comets travel?

Accepted Answer

Comets can travel incredibly fast, sometimes more than 130,000 miles per hour, as they zoom around the Sun.

Question 16

What are ancient stories about comets?

Accepted Answer

In ancient times, people thought comets were messages or warnings from the gods. They used to view them with wonder and fear.

Question 17

Can a comet be helpful to scientists?

Accepted Answer

Yes, comets can help scientists learn about the early solar system because they are like time capsules from when it was formed.

Question 18

How do comets impact life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

While a comet impact today could be harmful, some scientists think comets may have brought water to Earth long ago, helping life to start.

Question 19

What's the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

Accepted Answer

Comets are made of ice and dust, and have tails when near the Sun, while asteroids are mostly rock and metal without tails.

Question 20

How often do comets appear in our sky?

Accepted Answer

Some comets come by often, like every few years, while others might only appear once in many hundreds or thousands of years.

The History of Comets and Their Impact on Earth - 20 FAQs Explained Simply