Actually the tail's position usually is determined by the position of the sun relative to the comet. The tail *usually* points directly away from the sun because it is pushed there by the solar wind.
That is what makes this comet "odd". The tail is not pointing where it should, indicating that there is some jetting of gasses or some other phenomenon happening.
I knew it was one or the other, gravity pulling it toward the sun or solar winds, I chose gravity!:) At any rate I know that comets down “fly backwards!”.
I'm not a scientist but my Husband says that the green color could be that the comet is an iceball of copper sulfide and/or argon gas - they both burn green in visible lightwaves. The cynogen (sp?) gas would burn colorless. Instead of shedding these gases into the tail (which is caused by friction) as a less compact iceball comet would do, the friction may be compacting an already dense comet. He says the phenomenon to watch for is if an already dense gas-ball of ice is compressed further, it may result in a partial or complete explosive fracturing. Now, I, am curious that the story comes from Washington, as opposed to NASA. best regards, blu