Comet formation. Computer artwork of stars passing the Oort cloud causing a comet to head into the inner solar system (bright,bottom right). The Oort cloud is a halo of small bodies of rock and ice which extends out to about 1.5 light years from the Sun. If the passage of the solar system through space brings it near any other stars (centre left),their gravitational fields may cause one of these bodies (grey) to be hurled from its orbit (dashed line). This trajectory (arrow) may bring it near the Sun,causing its ice to evaporate and form the coma and tails characteristic of comets | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Lunau, Claus |
Taille de l’image : | 1482 px × 1405 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |