comet
/ˈkɒmɪt/
Definition
A small celestial body consisting of ice and dust that orbits the sun and develops a visible 'tail' or streak of light as it approaches the sun's heat.
Etymology
The word originates from the Greek 'komētēs', meaning 'long-haired,' in reference to the tail of light that trailing comets appear to possess. It transitioned through Latin 'cometa' before entering Middle English.
In the news
The article mentions comets as one of the many types of astronomical phenomena that the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's new camera will capture while surveying the southern sky. Detecting these objects is part of the broader effort to map the changing universe in detail.
The Rubin Observatory's 10-year movie of the universe is about to 'blow our minds,' chief scientist says
Read the full article ↗Live Science