Comets: Celestial Wanderers Quiz

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What are comets mainly composed of?

Magnetic fields and radiation

Rock and metal

Ice, dust, and volatile gases (correct)

Molten lava

Why are comets often referred to as 'dirty snowballs' or 'icy dirtballs'?

Because they contain only dust particles

Due to their composition of water ice, frozen gases, and various organic compounds (correct)

Because they have a solid core known as the nucleus

Because they are made of pure water ice

What causes comets to form a glowing coma and a tail when they approach the Sun?

The heat causing the ices to sublimate and release gas and dust (correct)

The magnetic field of the Sun

The collision with other celestial bodies

The gravitational pull of the Sun

What is the solid core of a comet known as?

Nucleus Signup and view all the answers

What is the glowing cloud of gas and dust that forms around the nucleus of a comet called?

Coma Signup and view all the answers

Why does the tail of a comet always point away from the Sun?

Due to the solar wind Signup and view all the answers

What creates the tail of a comet?

Solar wind and radiation pressure pushing released gases and dust away from the Sun Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of tails that comets can have?

Ion tail and dust tail Signup and view all the answers

When was Halley's Comet last visible from Earth?

1986 Signup and view all the answers

What makes Hale-Bopp a memorable celestial event?

It became exceptionally bright and visible to the naked eye in 1997 Signup and view all the answers

What do space missions like NASA's Stardust and ESA's Rosetta provide valuable data on?

Studying cometary nuclei directly Signup and view all the answers

What do comets continue to captivate according to the text?

Our imaginations as they grace the night sky with their ethereal appearances Signup and view all the answers

What was the period of Halley's Comet's last visibility from Earth?

76 years Signup and view all the answers

What type of tails can comets have?

The dust tail and the ion tail Signup and view all the answers

What contributed to our understanding of the solar system's formation and inspired awe and wonder?

The periodic journeys of comets around the Sun Signup and view all the answers

When was Hale-Bopp comet discovered?

1995 Signup and view all the answers

What do space missions like NASA's Stardust and ESA's Rosetta provide valuable data on?

Cometary nuclei Signup and view all the answers

What creates the tail of a comet?

Solar wind and radiation pressure pushing released gases and dust away from the Sun Signup and view all the answers

What term is used to describe the cloud of gas and dust that forms around the nucleus of a comet?

Coma Signup and view all the answers

What mainly composes the solid core of a comet known as the nucleus?

Water ice and organic compounds Signup and view all the answers

What causes the tail of a comet to always point away from the Sun?

Solar wind Signup and view all the answers

Which term is used to describe the glowing tail formed by a comet when it approaches the Sun?

Tail Signup and view all the answers

What type of orbits do comets typically have?

Elliptical orbits Signup and view all the answers

What term is often used to refer to comets due to their composition of ice, dust, and volatile gases?

Dirty snowballs or icy dirtballs Signup and view all the answers

Comets: Celestial Wanderers Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What are comets mainly composed of?

Why are comets often referred to as 'dirty snowballs' or 'icy dirtballs'?

What causes comets to form a glowing coma and a tail when they approach the Sun?

What is the solid core of a comet known as?

What is the glowing cloud of gas and dust that forms around the nucleus of a comet called?

Why does the tail of a comet always point away from the Sun?

What creates the tail of a comet?

What are the two types of tails that comets can have?

When was Halley's Comet last visible from Earth?

What makes Hale-Bopp a memorable celestial event?

What do space missions like NASA's Stardust and ESA's Rosetta provide valuable data on?

What do comets continue to captivate according to the text?

What was the period of Halley's Comet's last visibility from Earth?

What type of tails can comets have?

What contributed to our understanding of the solar system's formation and inspired awe and wonder?

When was Hale-Bopp comet discovered?

What do space missions like NASA's Stardust and ESA's Rosetta provide valuable data on?

What creates the tail of a comet?

What term is used to describe the cloud of gas and dust that forms around the nucleus of a comet?

What mainly composes the solid core of a comet known as the nucleus?

What causes the tail of a comet to always point away from the Sun?

Which term is used to describe the glowing tail formed by a comet when it approaches the Sun?

What type of orbits do comets typically have?

What term is often used to refer to comets due to their composition of ice, dust, and volatile gases?

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