Return to Astronomy Index Oort Cloud
The Oort cloud is the last remaining material surrounding the sun. The cloud is made up of mainly icy bodies called comets. Objects in the Oort Cloud create a halo surrounding the sun. Objects within the cloud often take 200 million years to orbit the sun. Comets that tour the inner and outer solar system are believed to originate from the Oort Cloud. It is believed that gravitational disruptions from an unknown companion that is thought to orbit the sun often disrupts the Oort Cloud and send these comets into the solar system where they begin their orbit.
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Comet orbiting the Sun |
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Photos Courtesy of NASA/JPL