Oort Cloud
Oort Cloud
The distant Oort cloud marks the gravitational edge of the Solar System, in a vast region of undiscovered objects. The boundary between the Kuiper Belt and Oort cloud is less distinct.
Credit: (NASA/JPL)
Short-period comets may originate in the scattered disk, inner, part of the Oort cloud, while long-period comets likely come from the spherical, outer, portion of the Oort cloud. These comets only pass the Sun on rare occasion, possibly when disturbed by distant passing stars or galactic tides. There is speculation of other large planets in this region that may disturb comets in their vicinity, but none have yet been discovered.
Fun Facts
- the Oort cloud objects may have formed closer to the Sun, but were scattered farther out
- Some small bodies in the Solar System may have been captured from the Oort cloud
Missions
None