Why was the word comet derived from Greek cometes which means hairy star?

The word "comet" comes from the Greek word "komētēs," which indeed means "hairy star." This is a direct reflection of how comets appear in the sky.

Here's why:

* The Tail: Comets are icy bodies that release gas and dust as they approach the sun. This creates a long, luminous tail that trails behind them. This tail often resembles flowing hair, giving the comet a "hairy" appearance.

* Ancient Observations: The Greeks, like many ancient cultures, observed comets and were struck by their unusual appearance. The term "komētēs" was a descriptive term that accurately captured this visual characteristic.

The term "komētēs" was later adopted into Latin as "cometa," and ultimately into English as "comet." So, the name reflects the very essence of a comet – its distinctive, hair-like tail.