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The Oort cloud (/ ɔːr t, ʊər t /), [1] sometimes called the Öpik–Oort cloud, [2] is theorized to be a vast cloud of icy planetesimals surrounding the Sun at distances ranging from 2,000 to 200,000 AU (0.03 to 3.2 light-years). [3] [note 1] [4] The concept of such a cloud was proposed in 1950 by the Dutch astronomer Jan Oort, in whose ...
The Kuiper belt, scattered disk, and Oort cloud are three conventional divisions of this volume of space. [1] [nb 1] As of February 2024, the catalog of minor planets contains 1060 numbered TNOs. In addition, there are more than 3,500 unnumbered TNOs, which have been observed since 1993. [3] [4] [5] [6]
2012 VP 113 (possibly inner Oort cloud) Sedna, a dwarf planet (possibly inner Oort cloud) Oort cloud (hypothetical) Hills cloud/inner Oort cloud; Outer Oort cloud; The Solar System also contains: Comets. List of periodic comets; List of near-parabolic comets; Small objects, including: Meteoroids; Interplanetary dust. Helium focusing cone ...
The Oort cloud (/ ɔːr t, ʊər t /), sometimes called the Öpik–Oort cloud, is theorized to be a vast cloud of icy planetesimals surrounding the Sun at distances ranging from 2,000 to 200,000 AU (0.03 to 3.2 light-years). The concept of such a cloud was proposed in 1950 by the Dutch astronomer Jan Oort, in whose honor the
Numerous such comets have been observed when close to the Sun. The closer an object is to the Sun the faster it needs to move to maintain the orbit. Objects move slowest when furthest from the Sun (aphelion) and fastest when closest to the Sun (perihelion) and this is why Oort cloud comets spend most of their time in the Oort cloud.
Description 134340 Pluto: A dwarf planet, the first and largest trans-Neptunian object (TNO) discovered. It is the only TNO known to have an atmosphere. Hosts a system of five satellites and is the prototype plutino. 15760 Albion: The prototype classical Kuiper belt object (KBO), the first TNO discovered after Pluto (385185) 1993 RO
[2] [6] [10] Ninety-eight percent of mathematical simulations of the star system's trajectory indicated that it passed through the Solar System's Oort cloud, or within 120,000 AU (0.58 pc; 1.9 ly) of the Sun. [2] Comets perturbed from the Oort cloud would require roughly two million years to get to the inner Solar System. [2]
The asteroid and comet belts orbit the Sun from the inner rocky planets into outer parts of the Solar System, interstellar space. [16] [17] [18] An astronomical unit, or AU, is the distance from Earth to the Sun, which is approximately 150 billion meters (93 million miles). [19]