Can they be considered comets?

Question

Can Sedna, Quaoar, Xena or even Pluto be considered comets? After all, they all come from the Kuiper Belt.

Answer 1

No a comet is an ice ball

Answer 2

Comets are icy dusty snowballs with very eccentric orbits that periodically approach the sun and give off gasses that form a tail. There are many bodies in the outer solar system that have similar composition and origin, but do not come near the sun nor appear comet like. Some scientists would like to reclassify Pluto because of it's composition etc. However it keeps it's distance from the sun and even has a moon (Charon). There's never been a comet observed with an accompanying moon, nor would i ever expect there to be. So i would maintain that Pluto is a planet and the other mentioned bodies are planetoids. Until they change trajectories, lose their moons, and grow tails periodically I'm not calling them comets.

Answer 3

No, due to their composition, if for no other reason, they cannot be comets.

Comets are composed of ice, dust, and particulates... Pluto is a planet. An icy, frozen planet, but still very much a planet =D The others are planetoid masses, still unable to be comets due to their composition, orbits, masses, etc.

Hope this clarifies.

-Daniel

Answer 4

It hasn't been ruled out. As a matter of fact, there is news that scientists from around the world are going to have a forum to decide what the difference is between a planet and a KBO. Plutos status as a planet could be changed as a result of the consensus. Check out this link for info:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060814/ap_on_sc/planet_spat_7

Answer 5

comets are iceballs not dwarf planetoids.

Answer 6

No.