Sassafras Astronomy Chapter 13

A comet is like a giant space snowball. They are named after their description in Greek "aster kometes" which means

• frozen stars
• icy meteors
• "hairy star"

• celestial rocks

What are comets made of?

• Gas and liquid metals
• Ice and dust

• Only rock and minerals
• Purely made of gases

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Comets come from the ​ (a)   of our solar system and ​ (b)   the ​ (c)   traveling between the​ (d)   .

• outer edge
• orbit
• sun
• planets
• inner core
• atmosphere
• moons
• pull
• enter
• stars

Which planet the comet passes by as it gets closer to the sun? This is when the ice starts to melt causing clouds of dust and gas to be visible.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

A comets tail always points​ (a)  

• away from the sun.
• towards the sun.
• in a circular motion.
• parallel to its orbit.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Why does comet's tail always points away from the sun?

• The comet's tail always points away from the sun due to solar radiation and solar wind pushing the released gas and dust.
• The tail is formed by the comet's rotation around the sun.
• The tail is a result of the comet's collision with other celestial bodies.
• The comet's tail points towards the sun due to gravitational pull.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which comet came close to Earth in 1997 to see it without telescope and won't return for another 2,300 years?

• Comet NEOWISE
• Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
• Comet Halley
• Comet Hale-Bopp

How often does Halley's Comet return?​

• Every 75 years

• Every 50 years
• Every 100 years
• Every 150 years

In how many years will Halley's comet return if it returns in 2061?

• 50 years
• 100 years
• 75 years

• 36 years

Why was it named Halley's comet?

• It is named after a king that ruled the country where it was first spotted.

• It is named after Edmond Halley who predicted its return in 1705.

• It was discovered in the 18th century in the city of Halley.

• It is named after a lady that a famous scientist was inspired by.