The origin of comets

Abstract

Empirical data related to questions regarding the origin of comets are examined, taking into account the primitive temperature and its evolution, the cometary C-12/C-13 isotope ratio, the chemistry of comets, and the solar-system related orbits of the comets. The theories of cometary origin considered are related to a condensation of comets from the solar nebula and a later ejection into Oort's cloud, a recent condensation of comets in situ, a capture of interstellar comets, and a reversal of the arrow of time in the traditional evolution of comets. The only hypothesis which seems to survive an evaluation of the theories on the basis of the existing data is that the comets were condensed some five billion years ago in the vicinity of the giant planets or beyond, at the outer edge of the solar nebula.