Suppose we discover a comet whose orbit was very highly eccentric, retrograde, had a very large tilt with respect to the ecliptic plane, and had a period of 30,000 years.Where is the most likely place of origin for this comet?
A) the Kuiper Belt
B) the Oort Cloud
C) the asteroid belt
D) the Jovian family
E) outside the Solar System

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Oort Cloud is a spherical shell of icy bodies surrounding the solar system, and it is the most likely origin for comets with highly eccentric, retrograde orbits and long periods, such as 30,000 years.

Suppose We Discover a Comet Whose Orbit Was Very Highly