Comets

Comets are small icy bodies that orbit the Sun, originating mainly from the distant regions of the Solar System. They are composed of frozen gases, dust and rocky material. As a comet approaches the Sun, its surface warms and releases gas and dust, forming a bright coma around the nucleus and often spectacular dust and ion tails that can extend for millions of kilometres.

Unlike planets, comets can change dramatically in appearance from night to night. Their photography can reveal the nucleus and coma, complex tail structures and their movement against the background stars, making each apparition a unique astronomical event.