Tag Archives: Comets

Kuiper Belt Objects…What Are They?

Posted on April 9, 2018 by terranojm

Kuiper Belt Objects are unique in that they have different compositions than most asteroids and different orbits than most comets. This has led astronomers to contemplate the identity of Kuiper Belt Objects. Surprisingly, the answer isn’t so clear. Asteroids are mostly composed of rock while comets are mostly composed of rock and ice. Most Kuiper … Continue reading “Kuiper Belt Objects…What Are They?” Continue reading →

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Comets

Posted on April 9, 2018 by samssolarsystem

Comets get the “dirty snowball” nickname from their composition: they are a little bit of rocky dust, a good amount of chunks of ice, and a pinch of more complex compounds.  Spectra analysis reveals the presence of hydrogen compounds within comets, and the existence of hydrogen compounds like water and the presence of carbon dioxide … Continue reading Comets → Continue reading →

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Comets

Posted on April 9, 2018 by samssolarsystem

Comets get the “dirty snowball” nickname from their composition: they are a little bit of rocky dust, a good amount of chunks of ice, and a pinch of more complex compounds.  Spectra analysis reveals the presence of hydrogen compounds within comets, and the existence of hydrogen compounds like water and the presence of carbon dioxide … Continue reading Comets → Continue reading →

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The End of the World?

Posted on April 8, 2018 by Katie

There are so many objects in the solar system that coexist with Earth in this universe. These objects range range from other planets, moons, asteroids and comets. But what would happen if they stopped playing nice with each other and ended up colliding? Specifically, what would happen if a comet hit the Earth? Well, that … Continue reading The End of the World? Continue reading →

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Dirty Snowballs

Posted on April 4, 2018 by natsastronomy

Comets are often referred to as “dirty snowballs“. That is because they are made up of a lot of many components that a dirty snowball would also consist of, and more! Many comets consist of dust, ice, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, and many more other components. When a comet gets close to the sun, some … Continue reading Dirty Snowballs → Continue reading →

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Dirty Snowballs

Posted on April 4, 2018 by natsastronomy

Comets are often referred to as “dirty snowballs“. That is because they are made up of a lot of many components that a dirty snowball would also consist of, and more! Many comets consist of dust, ice, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, and many more other components. When a comet gets close to the sun, some … Continue reading Dirty Snowballs → Continue reading →

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Deep Impact: Mission to a Comet

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Paolo Dumancas

Exactly twelve years ago on July 4th, 2005, a NASA Spacecraft called the Deep Impact landed on Comet Temple 1, … More Continue reading →

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Blog 5 – Comet Composition

Posted on April 4, 2017 by johnjohnb4

Comets are the relatively small, icy objects that orbit a star.  They are classified as “small solar system bodies”, as are asteroids.  Along with ice, they contain rocky dust and other complex chemicals, leading them to be described as “dirty snowballs.”  Spectra can be used to determine the composition of comets.  From them, we know […] Continue reading →

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Comets

Posted on April 4, 2017 by ksun1

The formation of the planetary bodies was not a peaceful one. Planetesimals, effectively “planet seeds” that would accrete material to gain mass, would frequently collide with each other at violent speeds. A collision between two planetesimals of similar sizes would spell the doom for both – all of their hard work accreting mass would be […] Continue reading →

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Why do comets have tails?

Posted on April 4, 2017 by aliyazd1407

Generally, comets got kicked out from their home which are the Oort Cloud and the Kuiper Belt. This phenomena occur due to the pull of the gravity by planets or stars. Then, their journey of growing tails begin by moving toward the inner solar system. Far from the Sun, small comets look the same as small asteroids, completely … Continue reading Why do comets have tails? Continue reading →

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