Comets main content.

Comets

Part of Hall of the Universe.

Comets

Exhibition Text

Comets are kilometer-size snowballs made of ice and dust. Trillions of them live beyond the orbit of Neptune. When a comet enters the inner solar system, sunlight evaporates its icy surface and solar energy blows back bright tails of gas and dust, extending millions of kilometers across interplanetary space.

For Educators

Topic: Astronomy

Subtopic: Planets

Keywords: Astrophysics, Solar system, Comets

Audience: General

The Great Comet Collision