Cometary nuclei

Cometary nuclei are the solid cores of comets, typically about a few kilometers across. They consist mainly of ice, dust, and organic materials, acting as the "brains" of the comet. When a comet approaches the Sun, the heat causes the ice to vaporize, creating a glowing envelope called a coma and sometimes a tail that points away from the Sun. The nucleus is protected beneath this icy shell and holds clues about the early solar system, making it a valuable target for understanding planetary formation and the origins of organic compounds on Earth.