Universe → Pisces–Cetus Supercluster Complex → Laniakea Supercluster → Virgo Supercluster → Local Group → Milky Way Galaxy → Orion-Cygnus Arm → Gould Belt → Local Bubble → Local Interstellar Cloud → Solar System → Oort Cloud
The Oort Cloud, sometimes called the Öpik–Oort cloud is a spherical region of icy bodies where comets are believed to originate from. As comets go back into the cloud or region they may gain more mass. The Oort Cloud is where many believe our Solar System ends.
In spite of its name, the Oort Cloud was not first postulated by Jan Oort. In 1932, astronomer Ernst Öpik postulated that long-period comets originated in a large cloud of icy bodies orbiting the Sun much further away from Pluto (then considered the ninth and furthest planet from the Sun). In 1950, astronomer Jan Oort independently came to this conclusion as well in order to explain the behaviour of long-period comets.[1]
The Oort Cloud may be disrupted 1,400,000 years from now when the orange dwarf star Gliese 710 passes with in 1.1 light years from Earth.