Question 1

What is a comet?

Accepted Answer

A comet is a big ball of ice, dust, and rock that travels through space. When it gets close to the Sun, it starts to glow and has a bright tail.

Question 2

Where do comets come from?

Accepted Answer

Comets come from the far parts of our solar system. Some are from a region called the Kuiper Belt, and others come from farther away in the Oort Cloud.

Question 3

Why do comets have tails?

Accepted Answer

Comets have tails because when they get close to the Sun, the heat makes their ice turn into gas. This gas and dust fly out from the comet and create a glowing tail.

Question 4

How big can a comet be?

Accepted Answer

Comets can vary in size, but they are usually a few miles wide. Some big comets can be as large as a small city.

Question 5

Why do comets glow?

Accepted Answer

Comets glow because the Sun's light hits their gas and dust, making them shine. The bright light we see is really the sunlight reflecting off the comet.

Question 6

How fast do comets travel?

Accepted Answer

Comets travel very fast through space, often at speeds of over 40 miles per second. That's much faster than a speeding rocket!

Question 7

How do scientists study comets?

Accepted Answer

Scientists study comets by using telescopes to watch them from Earth and by sending spacecraft to learn more up close. These missions help us understand what comets are made of and how they behave.

Question 8

What happens to a comet when it gets close to the Sun?

Accepted Answer

When a comet gets close to the Sun, its ice turns into gas, creating a bright glow and a long tail. Sometimes, a comet can even break apart if it gets too close!

Question 9

Do comets ever hit Earth?

Accepted Answer

It's very rare for comets to hit Earth. Most comets stay far away, and scientists keep track of the ones that come near to make sure they're not dangerous.

Question 10

Can we see comets from Earth?

Accepted Answer

Yes, sometimes comets come close enough for us to see them from Earth without a telescope. When this happens, they look like bright stars with long, glowing tails.

Question 11

What is a comet's nucleus?

Accepted Answer

The nucleus is the solid center part of the comet. It's made of ice and rock and is usually frozen solid.

Question 12

What is the difference between a comet and a shooting star?

Accepted Answer

A comet is a space object with a glowing tail, while a shooting star is a small piece of rock or dust burning up in Earth's atmosphere. Shooting stars are just tiny meteors.

Question 13

Why are comets important?

Accepted Answer

Comets are important because they are like time capsules from when our solar system was formed. They help scientists learn about the early universe and how planets like Earth were made.

Question 14

Do comets have names?

Accepted Answer

Yes, comets often have names, usually based on the person or people who discovered them. For example, Halley's Comet is named after the astronomer Edmond Halley.

Question 15

How often do comets pass by Earth?

Accepted Answer

Different comets have different orbits and come by Earth at different times. Some comets return every few years, while others only come back after hundreds or thousands of years.

Question 16

What is a famous comet?

Accepted Answer

One of the most famous comets is Halley's Comet. It comes close to Earth about every 76 years and is one of the few really bright comets that can be seen with the naked eye.

Question 17

Can comets have more than one tail?

Accepted Answer

Yes, comets can have two tails: one made of gas and the other made of dust. These tails can point in different directions because of the solar wind from the Sun.

Question 18

What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

Accepted Answer

Comets are made mostly of ice and dust, while asteroids are mostly rock and metal. Asteroids typically don't have glowing tails like comets do.

Question 19

Why do comets sometimes seem to disappear?

Accepted Answer

Comets can seem to disappear when they move farther away from the Sun and their tails stop glowing. They're still there, but they become too faint to see without a telescope.

Question 20

Can a comet be dangerous?

Accepted Answer

While comets themselves aren’t usually dangerous to Earth, if a comet's path crosses Earth's orbit, it could potentially cause problems. But scientists are always watching the skies to keep us safe!

The Science of Comets and Their Journey Through Space - 20 FAQs Explained Simply