comet trail

Tail behind comet

A comet trail is the luminous streak left behind as a comet moves through space, created by dust and gas released from the comet's nucleus as it heats near the sun.

The term extends to any similar trailing streak of light or vapor: The firework left a comet trail across the sky.

In photography and design, comet trails are elongated light streaks suggesting motion or speed.

Related
  • tailRear animal appendage
  • streakUnbroken series
  • luminousEmitting or reflecting light
  • dustFine settled particles
  • debrisScattered broken fragments

meteor · shooting star · glow · icy · orbit · solar wind · celestial · outer space · deep space · blaze · wisp · vapor · gas cloud · ethereal · arc · trajectory · Halley · frozen

Categories
Opposites
comet component

comet trailnucleus

Central controlling part

solid core · coma

permanence of celestial features

comet trailfixed star

Star showing no planetary motion

planetary body · planet · asteroid

directionality

comet trailleading edge

Foremost position in development

Family

comet, trail, comets, trails, trailed, trailing, trailer, trailers

Familiarity
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Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Positive · Everyday, not technical · Rated G