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Tag Archives: Comets
Comet tails: an origin story
4.6 billion years ago, our solar system was just a big cloud of gas and dust. A lot of it gathered together and formed the sun. Most… Read more “Comet tails: an origin story” Continue reading
Kuiper Belt Objects…What Are They?
Kuiper Belt Objects are unique in that they have different compositions than most asteroids and different orbits than most comets. This has led astronomers to contemplate the identity of Kuiper Belt Objects. Surprisingly, the answer isn’t so clear. Asteroids are mostly composed of rock while comets are mostly composed of rock and ice. Most Kuiper … Continue reading “Kuiper Belt Objects…What Are They?” Continue reading
Posted in Small SS Objects
Tagged asteroids, astro2110, blog5, Comets, kuiperbelt, Solar System, Uncategorized
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Comets
Comets get the “dirty snowball” nickname from their composition: they are a little bit of rocky dust, a good amount of chunks of ice, and a pinch of more complex compounds. Spectra analysis reveals the presence of hydrogen compounds within comets, and the existence of hydrogen compounds like water and the presence of carbon dioxide … Continue reading Comets → Continue reading
Comets
Comets get the “dirty snowball” nickname from their composition: they are a little bit of rocky dust, a good amount of chunks of ice, and a pinch of more complex compounds. Spectra analysis reveals the presence of hydrogen compounds within comets, and the existence of hydrogen compounds like water and the presence of carbon dioxide … Continue reading Comets → Continue reading
The End of the World?
There are so many objects in the solar system that coexist with Earth in this universe. These objects range range from other planets, moons, asteroids and comets. But what would happen if they stopped playing nice with each other and ended up colliding? Specifically, what would happen if a comet hit the Earth? Well, that … Continue reading The End of the World? Continue reading
Posted in Small SS Objects, Terrestrials
Tagged astro2110, blog6, Comets, impacts
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Dirty Snowballs
Comets are often referred to as “dirty snowballs“. That is because they are made up of a lot of many components that a dirty snowball would also consist of, and more! Many comets consist of dust, ice, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, and many more other components. When a comet gets close to the sun, some … Continue reading Dirty Snowballs → Continue reading
Dirty Snowballs
Comets are often referred to as “dirty snowballs“. That is because they are made up of a lot of many components that a dirty snowball would also consist of, and more! Many comets consist of dust, ice, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, and many more other components. When a comet gets close to the sun, some … Continue reading Dirty Snowballs → Continue reading
Deep Impact: Mission to a Comet
Exactly twelve years ago on July 4th, 2005, a NASA Spacecraft called the Deep Impact landed on Comet Temple 1, … More
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Posted in Observables
Tagged astro2110, blog5, Comets, Solar System
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Blog 5 – Comet Composition
Comets are the relatively small, icy objects that orbit a star. They are classified as “small solar system bodies”, as are asteroids. Along with ice, they contain rocky dust and other complex chemicals, leading them to be described as “dirty snowballs.” Spectra can be used to determine the composition of comets. From them, we know […]
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Posted in Small SS Objects
Tagged astro2110, blog5, Comets
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Comets
The formation of the planetary bodies was not a peaceful one. Planetesimals, effectively “planet seeds” that would accrete material to gain mass, would frequently collide with each other at violent speeds. A collision between two planetesimals of similar sizes would spell the doom for both – all of their hard work accreting mass would be […]
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