Comets Comets by Jeremy T. Comets are the most distant members of the solar system and the least predictable. Comets comes from a Greek word that means long hairy star. Ancient people thought they were warming signs from the gods. Comets have been thought of as a warning for disasters, wars, diseases and famines. When a comet passes close to Saturn or Jupiter, their strong gravity may force it into a smaller orbit or kick it out of the solar system.
Comets can create a meteor shower when they run into the atmosphere.