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First Oort Cloud Object May Have Been Discovered
SpuriousLogic alerts us to the discovery of what may be the first object ever discovered from the inner edge of the Oort cloud. 2006 SQ372 was found on images from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Its discoverers theorize that this comet-like object and the planetoid Sedna, first spotted in 2003, might be Oort denizens. Sedna is in a stable orbit but 2006 SQ372 has been perturbed by the gravity of Uranus and/or Neptune, simulations suggest, so its orbital history is unknowable. 2006 SQ372 will travel out to 1,600 AU on this orbit, making it the most distant solar-system object yet found. The Oort cloud is believed to extend ten times that far, or about a quarter of a light-year. "Theoretical models of the formation of the Oort Cloud predict that it should also host a massive inner part, but comets from this region never make it near Earth. To see the long-period comets from the inner region of the Oort Cloud requires observing comets whose orbits always stay well outside Saturn's orbit — like 2006 SQ372."
Wouldn't that be a plutoid?
so he goofed a mickey mouse factoid?
-- Sauer
SQ372 has been perturbed by the gravity of Uranus
I can't help but feel there's a "Yo Mama" joke in there somewhere...
Was I the only one that saw a 'Matrix' reference there?
Yes, yes you were...
A learning experience is one of those things that say, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.' - D. Adams
The Oort cloud could hold a planetary mass comet on a collision course with Earth and we would know about it only right before the event or just after.
It's probably a conspiracy to build A Really Big bypass.
Someone should go down to the local planning department to see if any demolition orders are on file.
I am pretty sure we would notice something was amiss during the collision as well.
sheep.horse - does not contain information on sheep or horses.
Yeah right after I get out of the bath.
Remember to put on a bathrobe.
And don't leave your towel behind!