Comets

1. Comets come from regions outside the solar system.

Comets are part of the solar system. Scientists believe they come from one of two locations within the solar system: the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud. The comets that we see often – every 100 years – come from the Kuiper belt, and comets that we see rarely – every few thousand years – come from the Oort cloud.

2. Comets are composed of the same material as asteroids.

Although comets and asteroids are both tiny bodies that orbit in the solar system, their composition is different. Asteroids are mostly rock with some ice, while comets are mostly ice with some rock.

3. Comets always have tails.

Comets do not always have tails. They develop a fuzzy, shell-like cloud called a coma, and one, two, or three tails when near the Sun. Comets have no coma or tail when far away from the Sun.