coma
A glowing envelope of gas and dust that surrounds a comet's nucleus when the comet comes within a few astronomical units of the Sun (although Chiron has been seen to develop a coma at 11 AU). At perihelion, the coma is typically about 100,000 km across, and shaped into a teardrop by the solar wind. Together, the coma and the nucleus form the comet's head.
Related category
• COMETS
Also on this site:
Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History
Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site)
BACK TO TOP
|
