Education India, Colleges, Universities, Courses, Exams, Schools
New to Target Study? Sign Up to get started.
Forgot password?
Submit your email address and we'll send you a link to reset your password.
Answer:
There is no precise reason as to when and why does a 'Comet emit X-Ray radiation'. However, there are two theories regarding this occurrence.
1. When the X-ray emission from the Sun are absorbed by a cloud of gaseous water molecules surrounding the nucleus of the comet, and are re-emitted by the molecules, it produces a process called 'Fluorescence'. According to this theory, the cloud is so thick that its sunward side absorbs nearly all the incoming solar X-rays, so that none reach the remainder of the cloud. This is why the cometary X-ray emission has the form of a crescent, rather than that of a sphere around the nucleus.
2. A second theory proposes that the X-rays are produced from the violent collision between the comet material and the supersonic "wind" of plasma and particles streaming away from the Sun. This gives the X-rays, a 'Crescent Shape'.
Category : Comets
Next Question: Which is 'The Largest Comet ever seen'?
Previous Question: When was it discovered that a Comet emits X-Ray radiation'?
