How quickly will a comet evaporate?

25 February 2013

Part of the show Captivated by Comets

Sun_projection_with_spotting-scope.jpg

Ocular projection of the sun with large sunspots using a spotting scope (50mm diameter, 45x magnification) and a sheet of paper approx. 30 cm from the ocular. The apparent granulation is due to that of the paper rather than the photospheric...

Credit:

Question

How long does it take for a comet to completely 'melt' away from repeated exposures to the Sun? (Composition and size would certainly have something to do with it, I'm sure) Will there come a time when all the comets are gone from the Solar System because they have sublimated?

Answer

We put this question to Dr Jonathan Shanklin, director of the Comet sections of the British Astronomical Association and the Society for Popular Astronomy...