Astro*Dictionary
by Michael Erlewine

1 article for
"Tail, of Comet"

When a comet comes near the Sun, some of its ices and frozen gases are melted and evaporated; the solar wind catches these particles and blows them away from the Sun, forming a luminous tail, which may stretch for millions of miles.

See also:
♦ Comets ♦ Solar Wind