A comet tail is a stream of gas and dust that is released from a comet as it approaches the Sun. When a comet gets closer to the Sun, the heat causes the ice within it to vaporize, creating a glowing cloud of gas called a coma. This process also releases particles that form the tail. Comet tails can be divided into two types: the ion tail and the dust tail. The ion tail is made of charged particles and always points directly away from the Sun due to solar wind. The dust tail, on the other hand, follows the comet's orbit and is broader and more curved.