What you MUST KNOW about the Oort Cloud!

kennyc · 11-19-2010, 09:16 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oort_cloud.ogg

The Oort cloud (pronounced /ˈɔrt/ ort, alternatively the Öpik-Oort cloud IPA: [ˈøpik]) is a hypothesized spherical cloud of comets which may lie roughly 50,000 AU, or nearly a light-year, from the Sun.[1] This places the cloud at nearly a quarter of the distance to Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the Sun. The Kuiper belt and scattered disc, the other two reservoirs of trans-Neptunian objects, are less than one thousandth the Oort cloud's distance. The outer extent of the Oort cloud defines the gravitational boundary of our Solar System.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oort_cloud

Sweetpea · 11-19-2010, 10:42 AM

Now, do you know who Oort was?

His son complety changed our tax laws...

montsnmags · 11-19-2010, 10:49 AM

I occasionally hypothesize these creatures called "Oortwhales", and sometimes cite them as a delicacy at the Lounge's legendary Party at my Chateau Pompette. I haven't got very far mentally with my hypothetical creatures, who live (pre-"delicacy") in the Oort Cloud, because the first thing I hit is their tail, and wonder what it pushes against. Still, it occupies my daydreamtime.

Cheers,
Marc

kennyc · 11-19-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Now, do you know who Oort was?

His son complety changed our tax laws...

Really? This: http://www.uva-aias.net/uploaded_fil...tions/WP14.pdf

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I occasionally hypothesize these creatures called "Oortwhales", and sometimes cite them as a delicacy at the Lounge's legendary Party at my Chateau Pompette. I haven't got very far mentally with my hypothetical creatures, who live (pre-"delicacy") in the Oort Cloud, because the first thing I hit is their tail, and wonder what it pushes against. Still, it occupies my daydreamtime.

Cheers,
Marc

I think there were a few SF books that incorporated this.

I'm actually researching this to find out more...

If the oort cloud IS mostly comets then it might help understand where our liquid water came from (and maybe the oortwhales too.

).

44Dave · 11-19-2010, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I occasionally hypothesize these creatures called "Oortwhales", and sometimes cite them as a delicacy at the Lounge's legendary Party at my Chateau Pompette. I haven't got very far mentally with my hypothetical creatures, who live (pre-"delicacy") in the Oort Cloud, because the first thing I hit is their tail, and wonder what it pushes against. Still, it occupies my daydreamtime.

Cheers,
Marc

LISTEN TO MY SONG!!!

alecE · 11-19-2010, 06:01 PM

I think Larry Niven's character Beowulf Schaeffer did a spot of hypothesising about Oort cloud monsters before settling for pirates with a tame black hole?

montsnmags · 11-19-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Really? This: http://www.uva-aias.net/uploaded_fil...tions/WP14.pdf

I think there were a few SF books that incorporated this.

I'm actually researching this to find out more...

If the oort cloud IS mostly comets then it might help understand where our liquid water came from (and maybe the oortwhales too.

).

I'd be interested in your research. My reading used to be mostly SF, and so I wonder if I'm guilty of subconscious plagiarism (the whale in HHGttG doesn't count, because that is more conscious allusion

). I know I once wrote a poem about a woman's stillborn in a hospital and, although based on a newspaper headline, someone immediately picked up that it was similar to one of Live's songs from Throwing Copper. But that total self-doubt over any of my creations (I think everything I do is derivative, which puts a wall in front of me) is for another time and place. But please do tell if you find stuff, Kenny, as I'll laugh my head off if I've read them.

I hope you don't mind me bringing the oortwhales up. I'm fascinated by such environments and sometimes place myself or other things or beings amongst them to try give myself an imaginary analogy to properly conceive of their physics, meteorology, et cetera (remember Carl Sagan's hypotheses of life on Cosmos?).

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44Dave

LISTEN TO MY SONG!!!

Forgive me, but I don't know what this means.

Cheers,
Marc

kennyc · 11-19-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I'd be interested in your research. My reading used to be mostly SF, and so I wonder if I'm guilty of subconscious plagiarism (the whale in HHGttG doesn't count, because that is more conscious allusion

). I know I once wrote a poem about a woman's stillborn in a hospital and, although based on a newspaper headline, someone immediately picked up that it was similar to one of Live's songs from Throwing Copper. But that total self-doubt over any of my creations (I think everything I do is derivative, which puts a wall in front of me) is for another time and place. But please do tell if you find stuff, Kenny, as I'll laugh my head off if I've read them.

I hope you don't mind me bringing the oortwhales up. I'm fascinated by such environments and sometimes place myself or other things or beings amongst them to try give myself an imaginary analogy to properly conceive of their physics, meteorology, et cetera (remember Carl Sagan's hypotheses of life on Cosmos?).

Forgive me, but I don't know what this means.

Cheers,
Marc

It's a free (for all

) forum no problem. I'm not researching fiction though, more about what is really known about the oort cloud --- which doesn't seem to be much actually -- a lot of speculation. But if I run across anything interesting I'll definitely post back....

44Dave · 11-19-2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Forgive me, but I don't know what this means.

DYNAMITE!!!

'Cause space whales rule.

montsnmags · 11-20-2010, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44Dave

DYNAMITE!!!

'Cause space whales rule.

Hah! Well, I'd not heard of that, but apparently they do:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SpaceWhale

Sorry, Kenny. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

Cheers,
Marc (so common they're a trope)

kennyc · 11-20-2010, 04:25 AM

Love it!

Thanks Marc and Dave!

Oort cloud is boring compared to space whales anyway.

Who better to know the clouds of Oort than leviathans of the infinite.

44Dave · 11-20-2010, 08:43 AM

Anyway, I always thought the cloud was a fact, not hypothetical. I'm kinda disappointed in that.

biabeli · 11-13-2011, 11:00 AM

Hey Kenyc, I have been facinated by the Oort cloud for some time too and I read anvil of change by jack dash. Its a sci-fi book and not a bad read but the oort cloud forms the back drop to the story and he offers an interesting idea. In the book, the cloud was formed when the proxima centaury binary system formed, it disrupted the kuiper belts of the two stars and threw all the comets out into space which also explains the early (or is it late?) bombardment and, as you said, earth's water. I thought it was a cool idea - it might even be true.

11-19-2010, 09:16 AM	#1
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	What you MUST KNOW about the Oort Cloud! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oort_cloud.ogg The Oort cloud (pronounced /ˈɔrt/ ort, alternatively the Öpik-Oort cloud IPA: [ˈøpik]) is a hypothesized spherical cloud of comets which may lie roughly 50,000 AU, or nearly a light-year, from the Sun.[1] This places the cloud at nearly a quarter of the distance to Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the Sun. The Kuiper belt and scattered disc, the other two reservoirs of trans-Neptunian objects, are less than one thousandth the Oort cloud's distance. The outer extent of the Oort cloud defines the gravitational boundary of our Solar System. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oort_cloud

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11-19-2010, 10:42 AM	#2
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Now, do you know who Oort was? His son complety changed our tax laws...

11-19-2010, 10:49 AM	#3
montsnmags Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,155 Karma: 4632658 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: none	I occasionally hypothesize these creatures called "Oortwhales", and sometimes cite them as a delicacy at the Lounge's legendary Party at my Chateau Pompette. I haven't got very far mentally with my hypothetical creatures, who live (pre-"delicacy") in the Oort Cloud, because the first thing I hit is their tail, and wonder what it pushes against. Still, it occupies my daydreamtime. Cheers, Marc

11-19-2010, 06:01 PM	#6
alecE Evangelist Posts: 412 Karma: 546196 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK canal boat Device: sony prs505, prs650, kobo Glo HD liseuses	I think Larry Niven's character Beowulf Schaeffer did a spot of hypothesising about Oort cloud monsters before settling for pirates with a tame black hole?

11-20-2010, 04:25 AM	#11
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	Love it! Thanks Marc and Dave! Oort cloud is boring compared to space whales anyway. Who better to know the clouds of Oort than leviathans of the infinite.

11-20-2010, 08:43 AM	#12
44Dave Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 3266 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Nook	Anyway, I always thought the cloud was a fact, not hypothetical. I'm kinda disappointed in that.

11-13-2011, 11:00 AM	#13
biabeli Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle	Hey Kenyc, I have been facinated by the Oort cloud for some time too and I read anvil of change by jack dash. Its a sci-fi book and not a bad read but the oort cloud forms the back drop to the story and he offers an interesting idea. In the book, the cloud was formed when the proxima centaury binary system formed, it disrupted the kuiper belts of the two stars and threw all the comets out into space which also explains the early (or is it late?) bombardment and, as you said, earth's water. I thought it was a cool idea - it might even be true.