Comets are large objects made of dust and ice that orbit the Sun. Scientists believe that comets are made up of material left over from when the Sun and the planets were formed. They think that about 100,000 million comets orbit the Sun. Some comets orbit the Sun like planets. Their orbits take them very close to and very far away from the Sun.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your early enrichment mini spark recording page #62: Comets

2. As of 2021 only about 4,584  comets have officially been cataloged, a number that is steadily increasing as they are discovered. However, this represents only a tiny fraction of the total potential comet population, as the number of comet-like bodies in the outer Solar System is estimated to be one trillion. That’s a LOT!  Write the number one trillion on your recording page.

3. Learn more about comets by watching the video below. Write 3 facts about comets on your recording page.

4. Go to this link and watch a short video to learn more about comet tails. Draw a picture of a comet tail on your recording page.

5. Share your early enrichment mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.