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What is a comet's orbit?

In: Astronomy, Planetary Science, Comets [Edit categories]

Answer:

There are two basic shapes for the orbits of comets: Elliptical if the comet returns
Hyperbolic if it just comes by once and never returns again

First answer by GregorS. Last edit by GregorS. Contributor trust: 294 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].

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Relevant answers:

How does comet orbits and comets orbit?
in an elliptical (oval) orbit around the sun, with its tail pointing in the oposite direction of the sun.
What is the orbit of a comet?
Comets in the solar system follow elliptical orbits around the Sun.
What do comet's orbit?
The Sun
What does a comet orbit?
Comets are small bodies of rock and ice which are in a highly eccentric orbit directly around our sun.
How can comets have orbits?
That means they move around the Sun.