What is a comet?

A comet is defined as a ball of frozen dust and rock that orbits the sun. This characteristic is essential to understanding what comets are and how they differ from other celestial bodies. Comets are typically made up of ice, dust, and various gases. When they approach the sun, the heat causes the ice to vaporize, creating a glowing coma and often a long tail that points away from the sun. This visual phenomenon is what makes comets particularly fascinating and distinct from other objects in space.

The composition of comets, which includes both solid materials and frozen substances, is integral to their identity. This sets them apart from rocks that may orbit other bodies, such as asteroids or debris. Understanding the unique properties of comets, including their orbits and behavior when near the sun, provides important insight into the conditions of the early solar system and the evolution of celestial objects.