Comets

What is the Solar System?



An illustration of the Solar System


Make a Comet on a Stick

Comets are large balls of ice, rock and dust but you can think of them as large dirty snowballs that travel through the Solar System.



A hand holding a lolly-pop stick. A comet is attached to the end of the stick. There is a starry black background.


Maria Mitchell

Maria Mitchell - painting by H. Dassell, 1851 
Credit: Public Domain

Occupation: Astronomer, Educator, Librarian

Year born: 1818

Research Areas: Comets, Solar Eclipse, Planets, Double Stars, Nebulae

 


What are Asteroids and Comets?



The image shows an asteroid in space on the left, and a comet viewed from Earth on the right.


Pages