A cometary coma is the extended cloud of gas and dust surrounding an active comet nucleus. Released material expands away from the nucleus and is altered by sunlight, chemistry and interactions with the solar environment.
Different spectral lines can trace different molecules or their dissociation products, while dust scatters sunlight and emits thermally. The resulting image combines source activity, transport and excitation. It is therefore a physical environment around the nucleus rather than a solid extension of its surface.
Articles by others on the same topic
There are currently no matching articles.