SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -A comet primarily consists of a nucleus, coma, hydrogen envelope, dust and plasma tails. Scientists analyze these components to learn about the size and location of these icy bodies, according to ESA (opens in new tab).

Detailed explanation-2: -Most astronomers think the nucleus is made of frozen water and gases mixed with dust and rocky material. Comet nuclei are described as dirty snowballs. A hazy cloud called a coma surrounds the nucleus. The coma and the nucleus together form the comet’s head.

Detailed explanation-3: -A comet tail-and coma-are features visible in comets when they are illuminated by the Sun and may become visible from Earth when a comet passes through the inner Solar System.

Detailed explanation-4: -Comets have two main tails, a dust tail and a plasma tail. The dust tail appears whitish-yellow because it is made up of tiny particles-about the size of particles of smoke-that reflect sunlight. Dust tails are typically between 1 and 10 million kilometers (about 600, 000 to 6 million miles) long.

Detailed explanation-5: -1) Nucleus. It is the central solid part of the comet. 2) Coma. The coma is the most visible portion of the comet surrounding the nucleus. 3) Hydrogen Envelope. It is the only invisible layer of the comet found surrounding the coma. 4) Ion Tail. 5) Dust Tail.