Where Does the Solar System End?

The outermost boundary of our solar system is known as the Oort cloud.

[{"selector":"#anim-0f9bfa52-ce26-4a87-bf75-a8b2c080c764","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9332b1ae-3dcd-49e5-a329-0bbf8d00ca13","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The Oort cloud is composed of icy space debris, some of which can be as large as mountains

[{"selector":"#anim-861df6e4-390d-4b5f-bc47-b977d647c8d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89b7b1bd-ec4c-4069-9a4a-17709dcc8c95","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Comets, celestial bodies with brilliant tails, originate from the Oort cloud

[{"selector":"#anim-9b01a302-ae2e-4150-bbdb-5f9cdb7bd372","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1b9ce32-5879-464e-98e5-0b2d8921812c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

It serves as the source for many comets that enter our solar system

[{"selector":"#anim-ea54a21f-dff3-4d94-9234-f5f103da2c44","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c50c1551-9003-4412-822f-63cac85571dd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The Oort cloud is located beyond the boundaries of our solar system

[{"selector":"#anim-86c9fff4-845c-439c-ac85-528153a710ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-79ffb25a-89b3-4318-aa57-3345ea3e57c0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The objects in the Oort cloud are scattered throughout vast distances in space

[{"selector":"#anim-1339ce61-7e4d-45e6-9616-91ebad924ace","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7ea5d48-b8fc-4f16-99f1-228ccba17414","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Some of the icy debris within the Oort cloud can be larger than the largest mountains on Earth.

[{"selector":"#anim-20ca1025-31c6-4f7c-98a9-315ab0a3ed42","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44b7f5c0-e344-494e-bd7e-438ac89897af","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The Oort cloud is a crucial part of the solar system's extended boundary

[{"selector":"#anim-ce24b781-d341-430f-8768-5ead191e335b","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91105bea-b5a7-47d8-b647-ec61942aafee","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Exploring the Oort cloud can provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system

[{"selector":"#anim-42900742-d833-4eb0-b4d3-a45263fbe628","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e32a6b7-9fb2-410b-b443-327b1f8af96f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}]