NASA supercomputer reveals bizarre spiral formation at Solar System's outer limits
The enigmatic Oort cloud at the end of our Solar System was detected by NASA equipment.
On February 16th, NASA published its latest research, which reveals that the Oort cloud at the end of our Solar System has a spiral shape. This would challenge previous ideas that indicated the formation was nothing more than planet-fragment pieces. The findings were possible due to NASA's supercomputer technology.
Due to this piece of evidence recentness, the findings have not been peer-reviewed yet. However, this constitutes an important achievement for science, especially knowing the appearance of the Oort Cloud was a mystery for decades. Even with the most powerful telescopes, the icy bodies within the cloud are too small and faint to detect.
What is this spiral formation at the edge of our Solar System?
This spiral formation is actually known by astronomers as the Oort Cloud, which is believed to be a vast cosmic shell at the edge of our Solar System. However, it had never been seen directly before. With this discovery, researchers have a better idea of what the formation looks like. The new model suggests the inner structure of the Oort cloud might resemble a spiral disk.
The Oort Cloud contains trillions of icy bodies and stretches nearly a light-year radius from our Sun, taking light weeks to reach its inner edge. Within, ancient large chunks of ice drift in endless orbits, occasionally disturbed by passing stars that send them plunging toward the inner Solar System as comets. They also represent potential hazards to Earth.
How did NASA supercomputer show a glimpse of the spiral?
Using advanced simulations, powered by NASA's Pleiades supercomputer, scientists were able to see a glimpse of the Oort Cloud for the first time. They used the latest innovation available to construct a new model that proposes its spiral-like shape.
In order to observe and confirm this structure, researchers will need to monitor the objects directly or distinguish the light reflected from them using other previous data and background sources. It can be achieved in two main ways:
- Following the path of comets
- Inspecting light reflection