A snowball in space is a comet, a cosmic body composed of frozen gases, rock, and dust.
Comets: Cosmic Snowballs
Comets are often referred to as "cosmic snowballs" or "icy dirtballs" because of their composition and behavior. Here's a breakdown of what makes them unique:
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Composition: Comets are primarily made up of:
- Frozen gases (water ice, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia)
- Rock
- Dust
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Size: In their frozen state, comets are typically the size of a small town.
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Orbit: Comets orbit the Sun in highly elliptical paths.
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Behavior When Near the Sun: As a comet approaches the Sun, it heats up, causing the frozen gases to sublimate (transition directly from solid to gas). This process releases dust and gases, forming:
- Coma: A large, glowing head surrounding the nucleus (the solid, icy core) that can be larger than most planets.
- Tail: A long, streaming tail of dust and ionized gases that always points away from the Sun due to solar radiation and solar wind.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Nucleus | The solid, icy core of the comet. |
| Coma | The glowing atmosphere surrounding the nucleus, formed by sublimated gases and dust. |
| Tail | A stream of dust and ionized gases that extends away from the Sun. |
| Composition | Primarily frozen gases (ice), rock, and dust. |
| Location | Originate from the outer reaches of the solar system (Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud). |
| Size (Frozen) | Comparable to a small town. |
