Comets

A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing

close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process
called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma,
and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are due to the
effects of solar radiation and the solar wind acting upon the
nucleus of the comet. Comet nuclei range from a few hundred
metres to tens of kilometres across and are composed of loose
collections of ice, dust, and small rocky particles. The coma
may be up to 15 times the Earth's diameter, while the tail may
stretch one astronomical unit. If sufficiently bright, a comet may
be seen from the Earth without the aid of a telescope and may
subtend an arc of 30° (60 Moons) across the sky. Comets have
been observed and recorded since ancient times by many
cultures.
 Movement of a comet
1. A comet moves at a speed range of 10
to 70 km per second.Most comets are
from the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud.
2. When a comet gets closer to the Sun,it
increases in speed,melts and appears to
have a long tail
3. The tail of a comet is always
away from the Sun due to solar
wind blowing from the Sun.
4. Strong gravitational pull of outer planets
causes the comet to easily slip out of its
orbit.
5. A comet that is out of its orbit has a risk of
colliding with the Earth at high speed.
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=mQErMYDf
w0Y&t=37s
Protecting the Earth from Asteroid Impacts

Scientists are always monitoring asteroids in

space to ensure that the orbits of the
asteroids are at a safe distance from the
other orbit of Earth. Warnings will be issued if
there is a risk of an asteroid colliding with
Earth. Asteroids that approach the Earth may
be destroyed or have its course changed.