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Kuiper Belt

  • Extends out from the orbit of Neptune (about 30 AU) to 50 AU from the sun.

  • Similar to asteroid belt but larger and more massive.

  • Consists of small bodies which are believed to be remnants from the solar system's formation.

  • Small bodies are icy. 

  • Pluto is the largest known object in the Kuiper Belt.

  • Short-term comets believed to originate in the Kuiper Belt.

  • Objects in the Kuiper Belt have NOT "cleared the neighborhood" of other objects in their orbit.

  • There are no known worlds with rings located in the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud

Oort Cloud

The Oort Cloud extends out from the Kuiper Belt. We are still learning more and more about the Oort Cloud and the objects found there. It is believed that long-term comets originated there.

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