News Planetary Science

Oort cloud comets may spin themselves to death

How icy objects from the solar system’s fringe disintegrate is a long-standing mystery

Comet Leonard streaking across the night sky, with a greenish tinge at its head

Comet Leonard dazzled last winter before disintegrating as it approached the sun. One astronomer has now proposed an explanation for how comets like this one break apart.

cafuego/Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

By Lisa Grossman

- More than 2 years ago

Comets from the solar system’s deep freezer often don’t survive their first encounter with the sun.