The coma of a comet glows because:
A) of heating produced by radioactive decay in the interior of the comet.
B) atoms become neutral within the coma.
C) of heating and sublimation of the comet's nucleus by sunlight.
D) of refraction by dust grains.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The coma of a comet glows due to the heating and sublimation of the comet's nucleus by sunlight. As the ice and dust on the nucleus heats up, it turns into gas, creating a cloud of gas and dust around the nucleus which reflects sunlight, creating the glow of the coma.

The Coma of a Comet Glows Because