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Comets streak across the heavens from "summary" of The Secret World of Stargazing by Adrian West
Comets are mysterious and captivating celestial objects that have fascinated humans for centuries. These icy bodies travel through space at incredible speeds, leaving a trail of dust and gas in their wake. As they approach the Sun, comets heat up and release bright, glowing tails that can be seen from Earth. This spectacular display is what gives comets their distinctive appearance as they streak across the heavens. Comets are often referred to as "dirty snowballs" because they are made up of ice, rock, and dust. When a comet comes close to the Sun, the heat causes the ice to vaporize, releasing gas and dust particles into space. The solar wind then blows these particles away from the comet, creating a long, glowing tail that points away from the Sun. The tails of comets can be hundreds of thousands of kilometers long and are visible from Earth with the naked eye. These tails can vary in color and brightness, d...
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