Scientists at the American Museum of Natural History unexpectedly discovered that the Oort Cloud, a region far beyond Pluto filled with icy relics, has a spiral shape with two waving arms, similar to the Milky Way galaxy. This finding, made while preparing a planetarium show, contradicts the long-held belief that the Oort Cloud was spherical or a flattened shell, and the research has since been published in The Astrophysical Journal.
How a new planetarium show helped scientists unlock a cosmic secret
Pedro PascalNew YorkAmerican Museum of Natural HistoryArts and entertainmentSciencePlanetsMeteors and meteoritesAstronomyJon ParkerDavid NesvornyJackie FahertyCulture
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Scientists at the American Museum of Natural History unexpectedly discovered that the Oort Cloud, a region far beyond Pluto filled with icy relics, has a spiral shape with two waving arms, similar to the Milky Way galaxy. This finding, made while preparing a planetarium show, contradicts the long-held belief that the Oort Cloud was spherical or a flattened shell, and the research has since been published in The Astrophysical Journal.
Trending- 1 Last fall: Experts at American Museum of Natural History prepare 'Encounters in the Milky Way' show.
- 2 One evening (last fall): Scientists notice a strange spiral projection of the Oort Cloud.
- 3 Earlier this year: Researchers publish findings in The Astrophysical Journal.
- 4 Monday: 'Encounters in the Milky Way' planetarium show opens to the public.
- A striking shift in the understanding of the outer solar system
- Potential for new clues about the orbits of distant comets
- Publication of findings in The Astrophysical Journal
What: Scientists discovered that the Oort Cloud, a region beyond Pluto, has a spiral shape, challenging previous assumptions of it being spherical or a flattened shell.
When: Last fall (during show preparation), earlier this year (findings published), Monday (planetarium show opening).
Where: American Museum of Natural History in New York, Southwest Research Institute.
Why: The discovery was a 'freak accident' when scientists noticed an unexpected spiral projection of the Oort Cloud while fine-tuning a planetarium show scene.
How: By observing a projection of the Oort Cloud in a planetarium show, which was based on existing data and simulations, leading researchers to investigate and publish their findings.