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

Look closely at this object with its curved, glowing tail shining against the starry background. The glowing tail shows us that its ice is vaporizing.

This photograph shows Comet NEOWISE in the night sky. You can see its glowing core and a distinct, curved tail spreading upward against a starry background, illuminated by the Sun's heat.
This photograph shows Comet NEOWISE in the night sky. You can see its glowing core and a distinct, curved tail spreading upward against a starry background, illuminated by the Sun's heat.

Prompt

Identify this space object.