Comets in the Sky: Visitors from the Outer Solar System

Comets are icy bodies from the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud that orbit the Sun.
When they approach the Sun, heat causes them to release gas and dust, forming glowing comas and tails.
A comet’s tail always points away from the Sun, pushed by solar wind and radiation.
Some comets are short-period, like Halley’s Comet, returning every 76 years.
Long-period comets can take thousands or even millions of years to return.
Famous comets, such as Hale–Bopp and NEOWISE, have lit up skies in recent decades.
Comets are made of primordial material, offering clues about the early solar system.
Their dust contributes to meteor showers, like the Perseids and Orionids.
In the past, comets were seen as omens of change, disaster, or wonder.
Today, comets remain both scientific treasures and awe-inspiring celestial visitors.