Phys.org·3 min read·hard
Ancient stellar flyby may still be steering long-period comets today
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Pamela Gay
✦AI Summary
Scientists have determined that a close stellar flyby of the star HD 7977 approximately 2.5 million years ago likely disrupted the Oort cloud. This event triggered a cascade of long-period comets into the inner solar system, an effect that may still be observable today.
Why it matters
This research provides critical insights into the history of our solar system and the external forces that influence comet activity.
by Pamela Gay, Planetary Science Institute
scienceenvironment
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Confidence: 95%
The article is a scientific report based on peer-reviewed findings and astronomical data.
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