* Where they are in their orbit: Comets move fastest when they're closest to the Sun (perihelion) and slowest when they're furthest away (aphelion).
* The shape of their orbit: Comets with more elliptical orbits have a wider range of speeds than those with more circular orbits.
* The influence of other celestial bodies: Gravity from the Sun and other planets can influence a comet's speed.
Here's a general range:
* Average speed: Comets typically travel at speeds of 10-70 kilometers per second (22,000-157,000 miles per hour).
* Maximum speed: Some comets can reach speeds of 100 kilometers per second (224,000 miles per hour) or more.
For comparison:
* The Earth travels around the Sun at an average speed of 30 kilometers per second (67,000 miles per hour).
* A commercial airplane travels at about 0.8 kilometers per second (1,800 miles per hour).
So, comets are incredibly fast objects, zipping through space at speeds far exceeding anything humans can build.
