Kuiper belt and Oort cloud

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What is the Kuiper Belt?

Back

The Kuiper Belt is a region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune, filled with small icy bodies and dwarf planets.

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What is the Oort Cloud?

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The Oort Cloud is a theoretical cloud of icy objects that is believed to surround the solar system at a great distance, far beyond the Kuiper Belt.

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How far is the Kuiper Belt from the Sun?

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The Kuiper Belt extends from about 30 to 55 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun.

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What are comets?

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Comets are small celestial bodies made of ice, dust, and rocky material that can develop tails when they approach the Sun.

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What is the main difference between the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud?

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The Kuiper Belt is a flat region of icy bodies, while the Oort Cloud is a spherical shell of icy objects surrounding the solar system.

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What is an astronomical unit (AU)?

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An astronomical unit (AU) is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun, approximately 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers.

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What type of objects can be found in the Kuiper Belt?

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The Kuiper Belt contains dwarf planets, such as Pluto, and many small icy bodies.

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What is the shape of the Oort Cloud?

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The Oort Cloud is thought to be a spherical shell surrounding the solar system.

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Where do most long-period comets originate?

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Most long-period comets are believed to originate from the Oort Cloud.

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What is the significance of the Kuiper Belt in our solar system?

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The Kuiper Belt is significant because it is a source of comets and helps scientists understand the formation of the solar system.