17

Given an image or animation of a body in space, the learner identifies it as a comet when (and only when) it is a frozen body of ice, dust, and rock that orbits the Sun (visible tail near the Sun; no tail when far from the Sun).

grade level
5
frames
16

In this artist's rendition, we see an object speeding through the inner solar system, brilliantly illuminated by the Sun and trailing a massive tail of gas and dust.

Here you see an artist's rendition of Halley's Comet on its next return to the inner solar system. The comet shines brightly with a fully formed, glowing tail of gas and dust as it gets heated by the Sun.
Here you see an artist's rendition of Halley's Comet on its next return to the inner solar system. The comet shines brightly with a fully formed, glowing tail of gas and dust as it gets heated by the Sun.

Prompt

What is this spectacular object?