<p>Everything in the universe has a limited number of orbits.   But the way to make sense of your question is to ask <a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/18551/how-long-does-a-comet-live">how long comets last</a>.  Comets lose ice when they fly past the sun, so they get smaller each time.   How much smaller depends on how close they get to the sun and their composition, or how easily they "melt" or break apart.   (Ice doesn't exactly melt in space, it sublimates when it heats up)</p>

<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungrazing_comet" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Sungrazers</a> have a very limited number of orbits.   Halley's also is expected to have a limited lifespan of <a href="https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/how-long-does-it-take-comets-melt" rel="nofollow noreferrer">about 100 more orbits</a> before it stops being a comet and basically becomes a rocky body.   Halley's passes closer to the sun than Venus at its perihelion, so it loses a lot of ice, each pass, which helps make it's tail impressive. (when Earth and Halley's are properly aligned that is).  </p>

<p>Your question also depends on your definition of a comet.   Will Halley's still be a comet after it loses it's ice and it's tail? (sometimes called a <a href="https://www.space.com/32748-weird-tailless-comet-oort-cloud-discovery.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Manx comet</a>).  That's a matter of interpretation.   It will get smaller, but it will likely remain in orbit for some time after it loses it's ice.</p>

<p>Orbiting objects that cross planetary orbits are also, on average, less stable, but I suspect that's another subject.   Halley's might be destined to crash into the Earth, or the Moon at some point.  It's orbit nearly intersects the Earth's orbit in two places.  But don't worry.  That's not going to happen anytime soon, if it happens at all.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/DpRn3.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/DpRn3.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-23T01:26:31.900Z
Halley's comet.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-23T05:21:55.770Z
@RobJeffries  Thanks for that.   I've always made dumb spelling mistakes.   Math geek but close to last in my class in English and languages.
userLTK
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T19:33:19.603Z
2017-11-23T05:20:41.640Z
2017-11-23T05:20:41.640Z
userLTK
<p>Do comets have a limited number of orbits?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T15:59:41.540Z
Do you mean how many orbits a comet can follow around the Sun or if there is a limited number of "spins" a comet can make around it? Please clarify.
Daniel Ibaseta
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T16:13:17.770Z
@DanielIbaseta I have a question in the test that is: Related to comets: all the comets have a limited number of orbits. Probably around a planet
TTGG02
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T16:14:58.473Z
@DanielIbaseta why is this true? The comet can go to the infinite space
TTGG02
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T16:38:12.400Z
Your test question is not clear enough, as I am out of context I can't give you a proper answer. Maybe a photo of your test or a proper transcription would help to solve the problem.
Daniel Ibaseta
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T17:39:52.853Z
Your question is unclear: Comets do not orbit planets; they orbit the sun. There is no fixed limit on the number of times a comet can orbit the sun. Comets contain water. Eventually the water will boil away.
James K
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-23T03:28:09.280Z
@JamesK disagree strongly. Question does not mention a fixed number, "planet" is not mentioned in the question. The good, clear answer below is further evidence that the question is clear enough to be answered.
uhoh
<comets>
Do comets have a limited number of orbits?
TTGG02
# Do comets have a limited number of orbits?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-22)

Do comets have a limited number of orbits?

**Tags:** comets

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you mean how many orbits a comet can follow around the Sun or if there is a limited number of "spins" a comet can make around it? Please clarify.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I have a question in the test that is: Related to comets: all the comets have a limited number of orbits. Probably around a planet  
> **username_0**: @username_1 why is this true? The comet can go to the infinite space  
> **username_1**: Your test question is not clear enough, as I am out of context I can't give you a proper answer. Maybe a photo of your test or a proper transcription would help to solve the problem.  
> **username_2**: Your question is unclear: Comets do not orbit planets; they orbit the sun. There is no fixed limit on the number of times a comet can orbit the sun. Comets contain water. Eventually the water will boil away.  
> **username_3**: @username_2 disagree strongly. Question does not mention a fixed number, "planet" is not mentioned in the question. The good, clear answer below is further evidence that the question is clear enough to be answered.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-11-22. Score: 7

Everything in the universe has a limited number of orbits. But the way to make sense of your question is to ask [how long comets last](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/18551/how-long-does-a-comet-live). Comets lose ice when they fly past the sun, so they get smaller each time. How much smaller depends on how close they get to the sun and their composition, or how easily they "melt" or break apart. (Ice doesn't exactly melt in space, it sublimates when it heats up)

[Sungrazers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungrazing_comet) have a very limited number of orbits. Halley's also is expected to have a limited lifespan of [about 100 more orbits](https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/how-long-does-it-take-comets-melt) before it stops being a comet and basically becomes a rocky body. Halley's passes closer to the sun than Venus at its perihelion, so it loses a lot of ice, each pass, which helps make it's tail impressive. (when Earth and Halley's are properly aligned that is).

Your question also depends on your definition of a comet. Will Halley's still be a comet after it loses it's ice and it's tail? (sometimes called a [Manx comet](https://www.space.com/32748-weird-tailless-comet-oort-cloud-discovery.html)). That's a matter of interpretation. It will get smaller, but it will likely remain in orbit for some time after it loses it's ice.

Orbiting objects that cross planetary orbits are also, on average, less stable, but I suspect that's another subject. Halley's might be destined to crash into the Earth, or the Moon at some point. It's orbit nearly intersects the Earth's orbit in two places. But don't worry. That's not going to happen anytime soon, if it happens at all.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/DpRn3.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/DpRn3.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Halley's comet.  
> **username_4**: @RobJeffries  Thanks for that.   I've always made dumb spelling mistakes.   Math geek but close to last in my class in English and languages.  

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