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Oort cloud is still not confirmed, right? I get that it might be incredibly sparse, but isn't there anything to study there?
by f6v 5y ago
Oort cloud is still not confirmed, right? I get that it might be incredibly sparse, but isn't there anything to study there?
- dredmorbius 5y agoOort is (mostly) in the solar plane AFAIU, and there's every reason to use gravity assist to get there. I don't know that any specific objects are known, and getting into an Oort-observing orbit might be challenging. Otherwise, yesm it's sparse and arbitrary flybys would likely miss anything interesting. Spraying random probes in all directions makes lttle sense. Voyager 1 won't reach the Oort Cloud, if it in fact exists, for another three centuries.
- Beldin 5y agoI think you're mixing up the Kuiper Belt with the Oort Cloud. Kuiper Belt is in the plane, and within the Oort cloud. Oort cloud is a sphere. At least, according to ESA [1]. [1] https://esahubble.org/images/opo0204i/ https://esahubble.org/images/opo0204i/
- dredmorbius 5y agoHence my hedge, mostly. Though this is well outside my area of expertise.