Comets are cosmic wonders that have fascinated people for centuries. They are some of the most mysterious objects in our solar system, and there is still much we do not know about them. Here are some fun and engaging facts about comets for kids.
What is a Comet?
A comet is a small, icy celestial body that orbits the Sun. They are often called “dirty snowballs” because they are made up of frozen gases, dust, and rocky debris. These materials form into a nucleus, which is the solid central core of the comet.
Comet Anatomy
Most comets are made up of three parts: the nucleus, coma, and tail. The nucleus is the solid core of the comet, which is made up of rock, dust, and frozen gases. The coma is a fuzzy cloud that surrounds the nucleus, which is formed when the Sun’s heat begins to melt the frozen gases in the nucleus. The tail is the bright, streaming trail that follows the comet as it moves through space.
Comet Orbits
Comets move in highly elliptical (oval-shaped) orbits around the Sun. They spend most of their time in the outer solar system, beyond the orbit of Neptune. When a comet gets closer to the Sun, its ices begin to vaporize and create a coma around the nucleus. This is what creates the bright, streaming tail that we see from Earth.
Famous Comets
There have been many comets throughout history, but a few have become especially famous. Halley’s Comet is perhaps the most well-known, as it can be seen from Earth every 76 years. Other famous comets include Hale-Bopp, Comet ISON, and Comet Hyakutake.
Comets in Culture
Comets have often been viewed as harbingers of doom or symbols of good luck in various cultures. In ancient times, they were sometimes seen as messengers of the gods. Today, comets are viewed more as fascinating scientific objects that offer insight into the early universe.
Comet Missions
Scientists have sent several missions to study comets up close. The most famous of these is the Rosetta mission, in which an orbiter spent two years studying the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. NASA has also sent several missions to study comets, including Deep Impact and Stardust.