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"Dirty Snowballs"
  • Made of mostly Ice - density about 1, and Rock - density about 3. Also some Ammonia and Organic Compounds (hydrocarbons).

  • This gives them an overall density of about 1.5 - 2.

Comet Parts
  • Nucleus - solid part of comet. Generally not visible from Earth.

  • Coma - a luminous halo or "fog" surrounding nucleus - brightest part of comet visible from Earth.

  • Tails - long streams of dust and gas stretching away from comet.

      NOTE: Coma and Tails not visible when comet is very far from sun!