The Oort cloud is relatively 100,000 times further away from the sun with reference to planet Earth. The cloud is very vast on the cold outer edges of the solar system. The nearest and most inner objects of this cloud are found approximately 2,000 AU from the sun (Redd, 2018). The region where these innermost objects are found is called the Kuiper Belt. However, they are found towards the far edges of the Belt itself.

The main body of the cloud is so far-stretched that it can feel the effects of a nearby passing star or nebula. In fact, its outer limits are a quarter way close to Proxima Centauri (Redd, 2018). The nearest star from the Sun. this is a region in space that is beyond the Sun’s heliosphere, a boundary marked by the end of the Sun’s dominance with respect to gravity.

Oort cloud takes a spherical shell formation. It is the result of the remnants of protoplanetary objects that remained after the formation of planets. These objects were thrown to the outer edges of the solar system by the gravitational forces of planets as they were newly formed (Chris, 2015).

The influence of large planets such as Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune forced this protoplanetary material outwards. The cloud itself is made up of trillions of icy objects which can be as big as mountains. Comets are also inhabitants of the cloud.

REFERENCES

• Chris. (2015, October 28). Oort Cloud Facts. Retrieved from Space Facts: https://space-facts.com/oort-cloud/

Redd, N. T. (2018, October 27). Oort Cloud: The Outer Solar System's Icy Shell. Retrieved from Space.com: https://www.space.com/16401-oort-cloud-the-outer-solar-system-s-icy-shell.html

Angelina's Note:

Blog (2 out of 6) for my Astronomy Class with Professor Micheal Marks.

Bristol Community College, Fall River MA  Fall/Winter 2018

Major: Graphic Design