Do you ever look up in wonder, interested to know about all that fills the sky? Well, if you were to be paying attention at the right time and place you may be dazzled by a show put on by a mysterious space traveler – a comet.

Comets travel through the depths of space while continuing to intrigue and inspire scientists and skywatchers alike. Have you ever looked up at night and seen what you thought was a shooting star, but that star and its tail didn’t fade? You were probably witnessing a comet, which at times can be seen slowly moving across the sky.

Comets are mesmerizing celestial wanderers that have fascinated humanity for centuries and continue to hold a special place in the field of astronomy. These icy remains from the early days of our solar system are not only captivating to watch but they also serve as cosmic time capsules, offering glimpses into the distant past and shedding light on the mysteries of our universe.

First, let’s discuss the etymology of the word “comet”. This word is originated from the Greek word “kometes”, which means long haired star. However, according to the old English this word is derivative of “cometa” which is Latin.

Explaining how these marvels are formed, Mr. Tom from the Goldendale Observatory said, “Comets are formed at the same time as the rest of the solar system and migrated out to the Kuiper belt beyond the orbit of Neptune where most maintain stable orbits. Collisions have caused some to grow larger over time and others to shatter. Also, some have orbits which take them close to the sun, most do not.” 

Comets, sometimes referred to as “dirty snowballs,” are celestial bodies composed of ice, dust, and rocks. “The anatomy of a comet is split into three major areas,” according to Arizona State University. “The first is the nucleus, which is the solid core of a comet’s body. The second part is the coma, which is the gas and dust floating around the nucleus. The third part of a comet is the tail, which only appears when the comet approaches the sun and begins to warm.”

But they are much more than just distant icy bodies – they’re like time machines, giving us clues about the conditions during the early stages of our solar system’s formation over 4.6 billion years ago.

Comets have even been known to contain glycine, an amino acid that plays a significant role in the growth of life. Glycine was detected in samples of the comet named Wild-2 in 2006 by NASA’s Stardust mission. This discovery has connected comets with a fundamental building block of existence.

Karly Pitman, a planetary scientist and astrophysicist for the Planetary Science Institute, said, “Comets are incredibly intriguing objects. They preserve ancient materials from the early stages of our solar system, giving us clues about the conditions that prevailed billions of years ago. By studying comets, we can unlock the secrets of our cosmic origins and better understand the processes that shaped the formation of planets, including our own.”

Comets come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with its own unique characteristics and behaviors as they journey through the solar system. Mr. Tom, while describing the appearance of comets said that comets look different according to their sizes, and at great distances they will have no tail at all and look like dirty lumpy snowballs.

According to ASU, “the smallest known comet is between 100 and 200 meters (about 330-660 feet) in diameter. The largest known comet, called Hale-Bopp, is between 40-80 kilometers (about 25-50 miles) in diameter.”

One of the most captivating and well-known features of comets is their tails. These tails, which are often the trademark of what skywatchers associate with comets, is created as they approach the sun. As solar radiation heats the comet’s nucleus, gas and dust are released forming a glowing coma and distinct tails of dust and ionized gas that can stretch for millions of kilometers across the sky.

“When we see comets from Earth, we are really seeing the coma and tail,” states ASU. “As comets approach the sun, they begin to warm and release gas and dust. This material floats freely around the comet. It is pushed outward, away from the sun. It’s kind of like wearing a scarf on a windy day. The direction the scarf blows (the comet’s tail) is the same as the direction the wind is blowing, not the direction you are walking!”

Comets also vary in their orbit through our solar system. Some, like the famous Halley’s Comet, follow relatively short-period orbits, returning to the inner solar system every few decades. Others, known as long-period comets, have highly elliptical orbits that take them on far journeys, sometimes from the distant Oort Cloud – a region of icy bodies located thousands of times farther from the sun than Earth.

There are also myths regarding comets that say these might be alien bases, but the science proves otherwise – that are just the small pieces of material from the depths of the solar system.

If you truly want to marvel at these spectacular space voyagers, you must use a telescope. While they can be visible at the right place, at the right time, and in the right conditions, we cannot see many of the nuances of comets, or their tails, with the naked eye. Their brightness may be drowned out by daylight, moonlight, or light pollution so even close comets will benefit from the light gathering ability of a telescope to be better seen.

Despite centuries of observation and study, much about comets remains a mystery. Scientists are particularly interested in understanding the role comets may have played in delivering water and organic molecules to Earth, potentially seeding the planet with the building blocks of life.

As technology continues to advance and our understanding of our solar system deepens, the study of comets promises to remain an exciting field of research, offering glimpses into the origins and evolution of the universe. From unlocking the secrets of the early solar system to probing the possibilities of life beyond Earth, comets offer a glimpse into the vastness and wonders of our universe.