why do meteors come back?

Question

So there is an article here
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/10/09/science/comet-tsuchinshan-atlas-earth

It speaks about a meteor that will be here in October and not return for 80000 years. I’m just wondering, why do meteors come back?

I assume it takes a lot of force to change the trajectory of a meteor, so wouldn’t it move in the same general direction forever and never come back?

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

The trajectories only look straight if you’re looking at them up close. Zoom way the hell out and you’ll find they’re basically elliptical with a massive body at one focus.

>I assume it takes a lot of force to change the trajectory of a meteor, so wouldn’t it move in the same general direction forever and never come back?

The Sun’s force of gravity is tugging on it for 80,000 years to get it to “come back.”