Image description
The image shows the trajectory of a comet, which orbits on an invisible axis, around the Sun, the center of our Solar System.
The orbit is an invisible path or a closed trajectory, to which is attached the comet that goes around the Sun, and is rendered by a circular line, flattened horizontally, that is an oval, or scientifically called an elliptical orbit.
The comet orbits the star in a counterclockwise direction. The direction of the trajectory is represented by two arrows:
- the upper one, from the center of the orbit, has the tip pointing to the left, indicates the east-west direction and is rendered blank;
- the lower one, from the center of the orbit, has the tip pointing to the right, indicates the west-east direction and is rendered embossed.
The comet goes through the top of the orbit, passes the Sun at the left end, then returns through the bottom of the orbit, and the cycle repeats.
The sun is highlighted by a larger circle, filled with dotted texture, located on the left side of the orbit.
The comet, located at the left edge of the orbit, is marked by a small, blank circle, representing the solid and frozen nucleus along with the coma, the stream of gas that forms around the nucleus. As it approaches the Sun, the coma enlarges as the frozen gas of the solid nucleus melts and disperses.
The comet’s coma detaches an elongated shape towards the outside of the orbit, rendered embossed, designating the tail of gas and dust, left behind.
The trajectory is illustrated by several steps of passing the comet through successive points in orbit. It is in motion, and with each approach to the Sun, the comet’s coma is streamed out on the opposite direction from the Sun, forming the dust and gas tails, due to the very high pressure of the solar wind. Therefore, the comet’s tail is always illustrated to the outside of the orbit, pointing directly away from the Sun.
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