antitailn.
/ˈantɪteɪl/, U.S. /ˈæn(t)əˌteɪl/, /ˈæn(t)iˌteɪl/, /ˈænˌtaɪˌteɪl/ Astronomy.
A luminous protuberance which appears to extend from a comet's head towards the sun. Cf. tail n.1 2b.An antitail is actually the comet’s tail (or part of it), extending away from the sun but appearing to point towards it as a result of a perspective effect when the comet is seen from a certain angle. Cf. earlier beard n. 12.
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the world > the universe > constellation > comet or meteor > comet > [noun] > tail
streamc1368
crest1387
train1559
beard1563
tail1572
streamer1621
antitail1957
1957 R. Brahde & K. Brekke in Astrophysica Norvegica 6 27 The unexpected feature was a sort of long and narrow ‘antitail’, which pointed vertically downwards.
1998 Mod. Astronomer Mar. 16/1 Interestingly, there is also a narrow, sunward spike, or anti-tail, that may be followed at least 0.5° in the other direction.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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