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Comets are objects with three distinct parts: a nucleus, a coma, and a tail. The
nucleus,
or core, is made of ice, dust, and sometimes rock. Most nuclei are irregular in shape and are between 100 meters and 100 kilometers in diameter. The coma is a cloud of gas that surrounds the nucleus. The tail is a long trail of gas and dust particles that extends away from the nucleus. The comas and tails of comets form when ice and dust vaporize as comets approach the Sun.
Comets orbit stars along oval-shaped paths. Many comets in the solar system are located within the Kuiper
belt,
a region of space beyond Neptune's orbit. But many more comets may be located within the Oort
cloud,
a region of space at the edge of the solar system. If disturbed by gravity, some comets in the Kuiper belt or Oort cloud can travel toward the Sun into the inner solar system.
Select the true statements about comets in the solar system.
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