For example, even if Comet Hyakutake remains physically unchanged, its close pass near the Earth in late March 1996 should cause it to appear to brighten to about 3rd magnitude - still bright enough to see with the unaided eye. In the next two months, though, the comet will continue to approach the Sun and hence should become brighter still. Visible above as the bright spot with the faint tail near the picture 's center, Comet Hyakutake shares the stage with part of the central band of the Milky Way Galaxy , prominent in the picture's upper right. Also visible are Antares , the bright orange star in the upper right, Arcturus , the bright star on the lower left, and the Pipe Nebula , which is perhaps harder to find. Comet Hyakutake 's unusually close approach to the Earth allowed astronomers to learn many things, including that comets can emit much X-ray light .
Comets are cosmic icebergs .
They follow very elongated orbits which carry them from the frozen, remote outer reaches of the Solar System to close encounters with the Sun . Blown by the solar wind, comet tails generally point away from the Sun. Specific rights apply .