Contest Question #2
There is an awesome piture of the tail of Comet McNaught on the Science at Augustana webpage.
Can you explain the direction that the tail is pointing? Why it curves? Why it has striations?
Whitey's to the best answer by the end of winter term!
1 comment:
The tail is pointing away from the sun, and will through out the comet's journey. This is because the solar wind and the movement of the comet pushes dust and ice particles away from the comet and this forms the tail.
The tail is curved because as the comet travels in its orbit it leaves behind the dust/ice particles that it gave off. So the curve is the dust that is left behind as the comet travels.
I'm not quiet sure what causes the the striations, but my guess is that they are also caused by the solar wind. Since the dust tail is left behind as the comet travels the it is just sort of sitting there in space. I assume that the solar wind then goes across this dust tail and pushes the lighter particles out and leaves the heavier ones, much like the wind blowing over sand.
Well thats my guess for the last one and my answers for the rest. Lets hope someone else posts so I don't win by default again. :)
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