01 n. A member of the solar system which usually moves in an elongated orbit, approaching very near to the sun in its perihelion, and receding to…
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A member of the solar system which usually moves in an elongated orbit, approaching very near to the sun in its perihelion, and receding to a very great distance from it at its aphelion. A comet commonly consists of three parts: the nucleus, the envelope, or coma, and the tail; but one or more of these parts is frequently wanting. See Illustration in Appendix.(Astron.)