comet tail
A "comet tail" can refer to the luminous trail of a comet, a visual artifact in medical imaging, or a display artifact in television.
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Definition
B2Astronomy
(scientific)The bright trail of gas and dust that extends from a comet when it is near the Sun.
Example
- The comet tail became visible as the comet approached the Sun.
- Astronomers study the composition of a comet tail to understand the materials in the comet.
C1Medicine
(technical)A pattern seen in ultrasound imaging caused by highly reflective objects, appearing as a series of bright echoes.
Example
- The ultrasound revealed a comet tail artifact, indicating the presence of small calcifications.
- Doctors noted the comet tail artifact in the patient's ultrasound scan.
B2Television
(technical)A visual effect where a smear of color appears to follow a moving object on the screen.
Example
- The comet tail effect was noticeable when the character moved quickly across the screen.
- Viewers complained about the comet tail artifact during the live broadcast.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "comet tail":