The Comet reference article from the Simple Wikipedia on 01-May-2004
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Comet

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A comet is a large ball of ice. In Earth's solar system, the orbits of comets go farther than Pluto, the planet farthest from the Sun. Most are very far away from the Sun, but some come near enough to Earth for us to see at night. They have long "tails" because the Sun melts the ice.

Some famous comets:

Halley's Comet
Hale-Bopp
Levy-Schumaker 9