20. Why does a comet's tail split in two? (A K2S Question)

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Usually there are two tails: one is made of gas, and the other made of grains of dust. These two tails extend in slightly different directions, thus causing the split appearance.

Answer provided by Alan Hale, Ph.D. & Capt. USN (Ret.) William Readdy


Image:K2S logosmall.jpg Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer


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