Life of a comet   Life of a comet   This animation shows how most comets originate in an area beyond the orbits of Neptune and Pluto, filled with millions of tiny comet nuclei. Occasionally a comet has a gravitational encounter with a planet and is dragged into orbit around the Sun.   Download the latest Macromedia Flash® player.       Last update: 9 November 2007 More about...  •  Rosetta at a glance (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMYMF374OD_0.html)  •  Rosetta press kit (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMJ09374OD_1_spk.html)  •  Rosetta's journey (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMRZF1PGQD_0.html) Related articles  •  History of cometary missions (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMCZ3474OD_0.html)  •  Why 'Rosetta'? (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/ESA26F7708D_0.html)  •  Comets - an introduction (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMMXZ374OD_0.html)  •  How many comets are there? (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMSCM474OD_0.html)  •  Where life began (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Rosetta/SEMFWOWA6QD_0.html) Related links  •  ESA Science - Rosetta (http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120389_index_0_m.html)  •  Arianespace (http://www.arianespace.com)  •  Astrium (http://www.astrium.eads.net/)  •  DLR (http://www.dlr.de)