Comets are celestial bodies that have intrigued humans since their first sightings. With the arrival of science, it will be possible to sell what its characteristics and origin were. With the passage of time you can know the trajectory of comets and see what threat they represent. There are many comets of the solar system that have their history and we can visualize them every year.
In this article we are going to show you what the names of the comets in the solar system are and what characteristics they have.
Characteristics of comets in the solar system
Within the Solar System, where the Earth is located, comets are celestial entities that follow orbital trajectories. These luminous objects are remnants of the beginning of our system approximately 4.600 billion years ago, when the collapse of the solar nebula caused the appearance of numerous protostars.
The composition of these formations consists of a core formed by frozen dry ice, water, rock and other various substances such as ammonia, methane and certain metals, which remain solid due to extremely low temperatures.
As these celestial bodies approach the Sun and experience rising temperatures, the ice within their core transforms into gas, resulting in the formation of a coma or hair-like atmosphere. This atmosphere gradually expands and, driven by its own motion and the solar wind, heads towards the Sun and eventually transforms into a tail.
In 2014, researchers made a notable discovery during the Rosetta probe mission: comets, on their celestial journey, emit audible sounds. However, these sounds are not perceptible to the human ear, since they manifest themselves as oscillations of the magnetic field with a frequency of approximately 40-50 millihertz.
The dimensions of comets
In terms of dimensions, The core usually measures about 10 kilometers in diameter on average, although in certain cases it can expand up to 50 kilometers. In contrast, the tail has the potential to extend millions of kilometers.
As it approaches the Sun, the size of the object can vary greatly, making it highly variable in nature.
There are six types of classifications depending on their size:
- Detecting dwarf comets poses a significant challenge due to their extremely small nucleus, measuring less than 1,5 kilometers.
- The nucleus of a small comet is usually between 1,5 and 3 kilometers in size.
- A medium-sized comet usually has a nucleus diameter ranging from 3 to 6 kilometers.
- The nucleus of a large comet usually has a diameter of between 6 and 10 kilometers.
- The diameter of the nucleus of a giant comet usually ranges between 10 and 50 kilometers.
- The diameter of Comet Goliath exceeds 50 kilometers.
Orbits and periods
The orbits of comets exhibit an elliptical shape and are classified into short, medium or long cycles depending on their duration, as described below:
- A short cycle refers to a period of time less than 20 years.
- The middle cycle It falls within the range of 20 to 200 years.
- A long cycle refers to a period that exceeds 200 years and, in some cases, these cycles can extend for thousands of years.
The origin of a comet can be inferred based on its orbit, giving rise to speculation. Short-cycle comets are believed to originate in the Kuiper Belt, while long-period comets come from more remote locations such as the Oort Cloud.
Are there other forms of celestial entities?
The immensity of the universe encompasses an incalculable number of elements, so vast that our knowledge of them is undoubtedly incomplete. These elements, known as celestial bodies, reside beyond the confines of our planet, in the expanse of outer space.
In addition to comets, celestial bodies such as stars, planets, satellites, asteroids and meteorites coexist in the vastness of space. Although some may seem similar upon initial observation, Their unique characteristics set them apart, placing them in a distinct category. Examples of these characteristics include their size, composition, position, trajectory, and the type of atmosphere they possess.
Comets of the solar system that are famous
Halley comet
One of the most famous and widely researched comets is Halley's Comet. This particular comet has a short cycle, averaging about 76 years in its orbit. What sets it apart is its retrograde orbit, which means it moves in the opposite direction to that of the planets. The discovery of Halley's Comet can be attributed to Edmund Halley in 1705, who used Newton's laws to understand its periodic nature. Looking ahead, it is expected that the next time Halley's Comet reaches its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) will be in 2061.
Nishimura Comet
The last comet to approach us, Comet Nishimura, has now entered our field of view from Earth. Revealed on August 11, 2023, This celestial object is currently on its way towards the orbit of our Sun. NASA warns that accurately forecasting its behavior is an insurmountable task due to the potential for its core to fracture during its approach to our star.
ZTF Comet
Comet ZTF, known as the "curious green comet," had a close encounter with Jupiter and has a remarkably long orbital period of 50.000 years, indicating that it has not come close to Earth since the Upper Paleolithic era.
Comet Hale-Bopp
Comet Hale-Bopp, although it does not reach 50 kilometers, is widely considered a colossal comet, as it measures an impressive 40 kilometers in size. Revealed to the world in 1995, graced our skies for an extended period and remained visible for several consecutive months. However, it will be a staggering span of more than 2.000 years before it makes its next close encounter with Earth.
Shoemaker-Levy Comet
In 1993, the discovery of Comet Shoemaker-Levy presented a unique opportunity for humanity to witness a live collision between celestial bodies, as it tragically disappeared in a collision with Jupiter just a year later.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the name of the comets in the solar system and their characteristics.