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wolram
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can anyone tell me if the existence of the Oort Cloud
has been confirmed, or is it still hypothetical?
has been confirmed, or is it still hypothetical?
Recognition of the Oort cloud gave explanation to the age old questions: "What are comets, and where do they come from?" In 1950, Jan H. Oort inferred the existence of the Oort cloud from the physical evidence of long-period comets entering the planetary system. This Dutch astronomer, who determined the rotation of the Milky Way galaxy in the 1920's, interpreted comet orbital distribution with only 19 well-measured orbits to study and successfully recognized where these comets came from. Additional gathered data has since confirmed his studies, establishing and expanding our knowledge of the Oort cloud.
... on what you accept as 'confirmation'! Some possible answers:wolram said:can anyone tell me if the existence of the Oort Cloud
has been confirmed, or is it still hypothetical?
Probably worth reading some papers on this, if you're interested. Since it's theoretical, the reasoning for the Oort cloud's size - mass, distance from the Sun, distribution of objects in it (e.g. spherical, with a concentration in the ecliptic?), thickness, ... - is perhaps the most important aspect.meteor said:I'm confused, the article by Imparcticle says that the Oort cloud has a width of 3 light years, but wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oort_cloud
says that ranges from 50000 to 100000 AU, that is, from 0.79 to 1.58 ly, a width of 0.79 ly
The Oort Cloud is a theoretical cloud of small, icy objects that is believed to surround our solar system. It is thought to be the source of long-period comets that enter our solar system from the outer reaches of our galaxy.
The Oort Cloud is considered to be a hypothetical concept, as it has not been directly observed or measured. However, there is strong evidence that suggests its existence, making it a widely accepted idea among scientists.
The Oort Cloud was not discovered through direct observation, but rather through mathematical models and observations of comets. In the 1950s, Dutch astronomer Jan Oort proposed the idea of a cloud of icy objects beyond the orbit of Neptune to explain the origin of comets with long orbital periods.
The estimated size of the Oort Cloud varies, but it is believed to extend from about 2,000 astronomical units (AU) to as far as 100,000 AU from the Sun. For reference, 1 AU is the distance between the Earth and the Sun, which is about 93 million miles.
The Oort Cloud is important because it helps explain the origin and evolution of our solar system. It is also believed to contain remnants of the early solar system, providing valuable information about its formation. Additionally, the Oort Cloud plays a crucial role in the dynamics of our solar system, influencing the orbits of comets and other objects.