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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/aero-comet-tail-away-from-sun

Which way does a comet's tail point?

Away from the Sun.

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  1. Away from the Sun ✔
  2. Always toward Earth
  3. Behind the comet, the way it came

Why: A comet is an icy snowball of frozen gases, rock and dust. Near the Sun it heats up and gives off dust and gas. That material forms a tail stretching away from the Sun for millions of miles.

Huh, didn't know that: Billions of comets likely orbit the Sun far out in the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud.

The dad joke
Why did the comet get invited to every party? It always brought a great tail.
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References

Answer: Away from the Sun. A comet is an icy snowball of frozen gases, rock and dust. Near the Sun it heats up and gives off dust and gas. That material forms a tail stretching away from the Sun for millions of miles.

  1. NASA Science: Comets science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets
    The dust and gases form a tail that stretches away from the Sun for millions of miles.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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