Difference between revisions of "Coma (Astronomy)"
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(New page: A '''Coma''' is a spherical cloud of material surrounding the head of a comet. This material is mostly gas that the Sun has caused to boil off the comet's icy nucleus. This gas shines ...) |
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A '''Coma''' is a spherical cloud of material surrounding the head of a [[comet]]. This material is mostly gas that the Sun has caused to boil off the comet's icy nucleus. This gas shines both by reflected sunlight and light emitted by excited molecules. A cometary coma can extend up to a million miles from the nucleus. | A '''Coma''' is a spherical cloud of material surrounding the head of a [[comet]]. This material is mostly gas that the Sun has caused to boil off the comet's icy nucleus. This gas shines both by reflected sunlight and light emitted by excited molecules. A cometary coma can extend up to a million miles from the nucleus. | ||
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| + | == Sources == | ||
| + | [http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/glossary.html#coma APOD Glossary] | ||
[[Category:Astronomy]] | [[Category:Astronomy]] | ||
Revision as of 02:07, June 8, 2007
A Coma is a spherical cloud of material surrounding the head of a comet. This material is mostly gas that the Sun has caused to boil off the comet's icy nucleus. This gas shines both by reflected sunlight and light emitted by excited molecules. A cometary coma can extend up to a million miles from the nucleus.