Comets

The nature and origin of comets is discussed. Observations of the principal parts of comets, the dust and plasma tails, the hydrogen cloud, the coma and the cometary nucleus, are presented, and the icy conglomerate model of Whipple as extended by Delsemme accounting for the observed properties and their variation with heliocentric distance is examined. The origin of comets is considered in relation to the orbital statistics of the long-period comets and the existence of the Oort cloud on the edge of the solar system, and possible roles for comets in the solar nebula and the evolution of the solar system are indicated. Particular attention is then given to the discovery and properties of Halley's Comet, which is expected to reach perihelion in 1986, and to possible flyby and rendezvous missions to Halley's Comet and others.