Structure of closed finitely starshaped sets (Q4942917)

Remember that a point \(x\) of a set \(S\subset E^d\) is said to be visible from a point \(y\) of \(S\) if the whole segment connecting \(x\) and \(y\) is a subset of \(S\). Also recall that \(S\) is called starshaped if it is visible from a point of \(S\) and it is called finitely starshaped provided every finite subset of \(S\) is visible from a point of \(S\). The authors define a comet as a closed, finitely starshaped set that is not starshaped. They prove that every comet has a direction of recession. This theorem enables to establish a few further properties of comets. In particular, the authors characterize planar comets by means of its convex components.