What is the ion tail often composed of, and what characteristic phenomenon pushes it directly away from the Sun?
Answer
Ionized gases pushed by the solar wind
A comet often displays two main components when active: a dust tail and an ion tail. The ion tail, which generally appears pale blue, is composed of ionized gases that have been stripped from the nucleus by solar radiation and interaction with the interplanetary medium. The key factor driving this tail component is the solar wind—a stream of charged particles constantly emitted from the Sun. The solar wind exerts a strong electromagnetic force, pushing these ionized gases into a straight stream directly away from the Sun, regardless of the comet's orbital path.
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