How can comets & asteroids that don't penetrate earths atmosphere, while in space, burn with glowing a tail ?

Question

How can comets & asteroids that don't penetrate earths atmosphere, while in space, burn with glowing a tail ?

Answer 1

They are not burning - what gives you that idea?  Did you make it up.

Asteroids are just rock - they are visible by reflected light from the sun, same as the moon and planets.

Comets have water and gas in them.  When they approach the inner Solar System, the sun's radiative energy drives off the gases and water, leaving a trail behind the comet.

They are not burning.

Answer 2

When comets and asteroids get too close to the sun, they begin to burn from the heat. In addition, some scientists believe that other planets do have some sort of atmospheres that do cause friction, therefore setting a comet or asteroid on fire. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Asteroids do not burn with a "glowing tail", comets do, and its dust and space particles coming off of the comet

Answer 4

Comets don't burn in space.  The tail of a comet is not fire.  Comets do penetrate Earth's atmosphere.

Aster-oids do not burn in space with a glowing tail.  They do penetrate Earth's atmosphere.  A lithometeor is not fire.

Answer 5

because of the heat that comes from the sun and the rediation. they hit the astroid and a tail of water and gases fly off making the tail.

Answer 6

because they get really hot

Answer 7

Asteroids do not produce a tail. It is comets which produce a glowing tail. Comets have highly eccentric orbits, with sun at one of its focci. Comets produce two kinds of tails. One is dust tail which is curved and the gas tail which is straight and narrow.

Yes, it is due to solar radiation due to which comets produce a tail. But to be more precise it is due to solar wind. Tails become long as the comet approaches the sun. They shrink as th comets move away from the sun.

Answer 8

When a comet comes near the sun, heat from the sun melts the ice creating the tail of the comet.  This visible tail is what seperates asteroids from comets.  An asteroid or meteor glows as it enters the earth's atmosphere because of the heat created by friction between the object and the air in our atmosphere.  I hope this helps.  CYA