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[zarnic]

I always thought (according to what&nbsp;they taught us&nbsp;in&nbsp;grade school) that the solar system ended right after Pluto (it was a planet back in those days), then the Kuiper Belt was added ... but recently I read that the Opik-Oord Cloud is way, way out there and that our system is bigger than imagined.&nbsp; Is that right? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Wisdom doesn't automatically come with old age. Nothing does - except wrinkles.</em> A. Van Buren, 1978<br />* <em>An unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other toys.</em>  -- according to Van Roy</p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I always thought (according to what&nbsp;they taught us&nbsp;in&nbsp;grade school) that the solar system ended right after Pluto (it was a planet back in those days), then the Kuiper Belt was added ... but recently I read that the Opik-Oord Cloud is way, way out there and that our system is bigger than imagined.&nbsp; Is that right? <br />Posted by zarnic</DIV><br /><br />That is correct. In reality, the area of solar influence extends out to where the gravity from the sun equals the gravity from any stars in that direction.</p><p>Science has learned a lot since I was in grade school.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[zarnic]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>That is correct. In reality, the area of solar influence extends out to where the gravity from the sun equals the gravity from any stars in that direction.Science has learned a lot since I was in grade school. <br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV><br /><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-surprised.gif" border="0" alt="Surprised" title="Surprised" />&nbsp;thanks, MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Wisdom doesn't automatically come with old age. Nothing does - except wrinkles.</em> A. Van Buren, 1978<br />* <em>An unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other toys.</em>  -- according to Van Roy</p> </div>

 

[weeman]

<p>The picture shows how&nbsp;much&nbsp;farther beyond Pluto's orbit that objects have been discovered and cataloged. </p><p><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/1/891cb433-dddc-4bae-818b-1bca258686ff.Medium.jpg" alt="" /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Techies: We do it in the dark. </font></strong></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>"Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.</strong><strong>" -Albert Einstein </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>The picture shows how&nbsp;much&nbsp;farther beyond Pluto's orbit that objects have been discovered and cataloged. <br />Posted by weeman</DIV><br /><br />That's actually a theoretical image. To my knowledge no objects have been detected at Oort cloud distances, and the cataloged population of the Kuiper belt is much lower than is shown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[weeman]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>That's actually a theoretical image. To my knowledge no objects have been detected at Oort cloud distances, and the cataloged population of the Kuiper belt is much lower than is shown. <br /> Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>Well I would imagine that much of the Oort cloud is theoretical, but I know that they have found many objects in the Kuiper belt. I think it's fascinating that the illustration shows the Oort cloud completely encompassing the entire solar system, like a sphere!&nbsp; </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><strong><font color="#ff0000">Techies: We do it in the dark. </font></strong></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>"Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.</strong><strong>" -Albert Einstein </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Well I would imagine that much of the Oort cloud is theoretical, but I know that they have found many objects in the Kuiper belt. I think it's fascinating that the illustration shows the Oort cloud completely encompassing the entire solar system, like a sphere!&nbsp; <br />Posted by weeman</DIV><br /><br />Yes many Kuiper belt objects have been found, but not as many as the image shows.</p><p>Give it a few years </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>