Are there any "Polar" solar system structures?

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around the existence of "polar" structures in the solar system, specifically in relation to asteroid clusters and their alignment with the sun's axis of rotation. Participants clarify that while there are no known asteroid clusters in polar orbits, the Oort Cloud is suggested as a potential example of a structure that exhibits spherical characteristics rather than being confined to an orbital plane. The conversation highlights the challenges of understanding these structures due to the reliance on indirect evidence, particularly in the context of the Ceres mission and diagrams depicting solar system structures.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of heliocentric ecliptic coordinates
  • Familiarity with asteroid clusters and their orbital mechanics
  • Knowledge of the Oort Cloud and its significance in solar system studies
  • Basic concepts of galactic structures and their alignment
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the characteristics and formation of the Oort Cloud
  • Explore the dynamics of polar orbits in celestial mechanics
  • Study the Ceres mission and its findings related to asteroid belts
  • Investigate the relationship between galactic structures and solar system formations
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, and space enthusiasts interested in the structural dynamics of the solar system and the nature of celestial bodies in relation to their orbits.

Jimster41
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Like asteroid clusters or any kind of what-not thought to be part of our solar system?
 
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Soorry... What is a "polar" structure ?
 
In Heliocentric Ecliptic coordinates? North and South along the sun's axis of rotation.

You know, are there any igloos? :wink:

or asteroid clusters?

[Edit] it's possible I already asked this question. If so shame on me for forgetting, but hopefully anyone who answered has also forgot they already answered.
 
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Do you mean an asteroid cluster that is clustered in the direction of the sun's axis of rotation? If so, it can't be in orbit.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Do you mean an asteroid cluster that is clustered in the direction of the sun's axis of rotation? If so, it can't be in orbit.

I hesitated to use the word orbit. I was just thinking of there. Sort of the way galactic globular clusters seems to be found along the galactic axes of rotation. I saw a diagram of the solar system the other day, in relation to the Ceres mission. It shows the asteroid belts in a way I'd never seem before. Just seems like a lot of structure for clouds of those things, made me wonder about spherical structure, not just an orbital plane.. Maybe the diagram was bogus. I'll see if I can find it.

But I'm getting that the answer is kind of "nope". i was half expecting an "of course..."
 
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Could you give an example of a structure that would qualify ? I still don't get what you are after...

From.your last post it seems youbare asling "are there asteriod in polar orbits" i.e. orbits perpendicular to the ecliptic, or at least highly inclined - did I get that right ?
 
a clump of mass, or n of them that are statistically unlikely but in their clumping, but also in their location w/respect to the orbital axis of the solar plane. Ice-balls, dwark planets, clouds of little rocks.
 
Would the Oort cloud qualify ?
 
Wow. Yeah, that sure seems like what I was looking for... thanks. it's a drawing but I gather the real thing is not just totally random, + the ecliptic plane, that it looks more like the drawing, with some kind of harmonic-ish spherical structure.
Oort_Cloud.jpg


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oort_cloud
 
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  • #10
Frustratingly it seems we know little about it, all from indirect evidence rather than direct observations.
 
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  • #11
That is exciting on the one hand and also incredibly frustrating... Is right.
 

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