read the official NASA/jpl explanation for “anti-tails” … mouse copied on march 11, 2004

Comet Definitions

The following are generally accepted definitions for terms related to cometary astronomy.

anti-tail or anomalous tail

When a comet’s tail appears to be pointing toward the Sun, this is called an anti-tail or anomalous tail. In reality, the tail only appears to be pointing toward the Sun. To get an anti-tail, the comet must produce large (“heavy”) dust particles. If this happens, these particles are left along the comet’s orbit instead of being pushed away from the Sun and the comet’s orbit by light pressure. Often dusty comets will produce particules of different sizes creating a fan-shaped appearance. The smallest dust will be pushed directly away from the Sun (like the gas tail) and the largest will be left in the comet’s orbit. When a comet is close to the Sun, the angle of this fan can be 90 degrees or larger. If the Earth-comet-Sun geometry is correct, the dust in the comet’s orbit will appear to point toward the Sun. [Try this…make a right (90 degree) angle with your thumb and index finger. Your index finger is the main tail and your thumb is the dust left in the comet’s orbit. Point your finger and thumb directly away from you (keeping the angle 90 degrees). Your finger seems to be going in exactly the opposite direct from the thumb. This is what causes an anti-tail.]
REMEMBER this is the official NASA standard astronomy text book explanation that denies the existence of sunward spikes which I have unequivocally proven to be part of the Plasma Discharge Comet Model. Someday they will attempt to slip slide away from this so we are keeping this for historical reference.