- #1
Jack Dash
- 3
- 0
In writing a science fiction novel, I set it against a backdrop of the Oort cloud and, as part of the plot, I needed to speculate on its origins. Recognising my limitations, I would like some expert feedback on my ideas.
The first idea I use in my book is that Centaury A & B both developed separately, much like our solar system, until gravity pulled them into form a binary system. In the process, the Kuiper belts of both star’s were ejected to form the Oort cloud and this was also the origin of the late bombardment in our solar system.
My second idea is that most of the planets around Centaury A & B were consumed by the stars or ejected into space and our sun captured Neptune, Uranus and Venus. Venus then going on to displace a small planet that collided with Earth to form the moon. I figured this might also explain the unusual composition of the ice giants as they could have picked up considerable water from the comets on their journey. It could also explain the large axial tilt of Uranus and the retrograde orbit of Venus.
My third idea is that the Oort cloud now envelops the Solar system and the Centaury system in an hour-glass shaped cloud that passes through what I call the Waist (as in the waist of an hourglass) centred at the gravitational midpoint, 1.5LY from the sun. I envision slow moving comets becoming trapped at the Waist and accreting to form larger objects before being knocked out by faster moving comets or perturbations from Proxima. In effect, the Waist forms a cosmic cannon that periodically ejects large icy objects that create many of the long period comets and the icy moons of the solar system.
Do my speculations hold water? Any help would be much appreciated.
The first idea I use in my book is that Centaury A & B both developed separately, much like our solar system, until gravity pulled them into form a binary system. In the process, the Kuiper belts of both star’s were ejected to form the Oort cloud and this was also the origin of the late bombardment in our solar system.
My second idea is that most of the planets around Centaury A & B were consumed by the stars or ejected into space and our sun captured Neptune, Uranus and Venus. Venus then going on to displace a small planet that collided with Earth to form the moon. I figured this might also explain the unusual composition of the ice giants as they could have picked up considerable water from the comets on their journey. It could also explain the large axial tilt of Uranus and the retrograde orbit of Venus.
My third idea is that the Oort cloud now envelops the Solar system and the Centaury system in an hour-glass shaped cloud that passes through what I call the Waist (as in the waist of an hourglass) centred at the gravitational midpoint, 1.5LY from the sun. I envision slow moving comets becoming trapped at the Waist and accreting to form larger objects before being knocked out by faster moving comets or perturbations from Proxima. In effect, the Waist forms a cosmic cannon that periodically ejects large icy objects that create many of the long period comets and the icy moons of the solar system.
Do my speculations hold water? Any help would be much appreciated.