Do comets only have big tails going away from the sun?

[tenbyfifty]

we were all waiting with baited breath for ISON to go around the sun but can a comet put on a display coming into the sun or do they need to be heated up at perihelion to develop a really big tail?

[Ptarmigan]

we were all waiting with baited breath for ISON to go around the sun but can a comet put on a display coming into the sun or do they need to be heated up at perihelion to develop a really big tail?

we were all waiting with baited breath for ISON to go around the sun but can a comet put on a display coming into the sun or do they need to be heated up at perihelion to develop a really big tail?

"Do comets only have big tails going away from the sun?"

No, not ONLY.

There are several variables involved, not least of which is our distance from the comet.

If it is close to us and well illuminated in a dark sky on its way in then it ('s embryo tail) will seem to

to be big and bright.

So your question needs to specify big - relative - to - what,  us or the comet. big- as - in bright, big - as- in degrees across the sky, or big as in well etc&etc

But yes, the basic premise of your question is often correct, they often will have a bigger tail after perihelion , , , err umm , , , if they survive ar all, , , , way haa haa, goes to weep in jar of ale over ISON

[tenbyfifty]

thanks for that

i was referring to the really spectacular comets with visually big tails from our perspective on Earth

ie the type we were hoping ISON to be   i'll join u in that jar of  ale.