= Comet nucleus
A <comet nucleus> is the solid central body of a <comet>, containing volatile ices mixed with refractory material. Solar heating can release <gas> and entrain dust, creating the surrounding <cometary coma>.
Its shape, rotation, surface properties and <heat transport> influence where activity occurs. Bright coma emission therefore does not directly measure nucleus size: the same nucleus can have very different apparent brightness at different distances from the Sun. A model of <gas> and dust production is needed to connect the surrounding signal with the body.
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