Submitted by Brave-Line-6326 t3_z31itt in space
WictImov t1_ixjs3qi wrote
Reply to comment by EarthSolar in what would happen if a liquid mass of water collided with earth? by Brave-Line-6326
Halley's comet travels inside of Earth's orbit. It's perihelion is ~0.6au (aphelion is over 35 au). 1 au (astronomical unit) is the distance of the Earth from the Sun.
Halley's comet is roughly equal parts ice and dust. The ice is about 80% water, and most of the rest is carbon monoxide. Yes the Sun's irradiance will sublimate the ice, but there is also a time factor.
EarthSolar t1_ixjui52 wrote
Yeah, but the water here starts out as liquid, as stated in the question, I don’t think it would be frozen.
This_Username_42 t1_ixkwaw0 wrote
It would nearly immediately freeze.
The vacuum of space would cause water to boil off, drawing energy from the mass until it froze
EarthSolar t1_ixl9k8e wrote
Oh right, thanks for reminding me of that effect. I concede.
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