A stunning view of a comet streaking across the starry sky over Merzifon, Amasya, Türkiye.

Where do comets come from?

Some swing by often. Others take millions of years—or just once.

Comets: Origins from the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud

NEOWISE – Comets appear in yellow in Neowise's first four years of collecting data (December 2013 to December 2017)

Two far-off reservoirs

Short‑period comets come from the Kuiper belt and scattered disc. Long‑period comets fall inward from the Oort cloud after nudges by passing stars and the galactic tide.

Comets: Origins from the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud

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