Editing Oort cloud

{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}

An '''Oort cloud''' is a spherical cloud primarily composed of icy objects left over from the creation of planets, typically found surrounding nearby stars. Oort clouds often contain [[methane]], [[water]], and [[ammonia]]. Several planetary systems have Oort clouds orbiting them, such as the [[Sol system]].

The Sol system is home to a large Oort cloud, located approximately 0.79 light years away from the star. There is numerous [[asteroid]]s, comets, and small planetoids located in the cloud.<ref name="HI1">'''[[Halo: Initiation]]''', ''Issue #1''</ref> The Oort cloud was used by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] for convert operations and constructions. The {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} was constructed within the Oort cloud,<ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''pages 421-422''</ref> with construction beginning circa [[2537]].<ref name="Infinity trailer">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsNWkjP65Cg '''YouTube''': ''Halo 4 Infinity Multiplayer]''</ref> Only high-ranking officers were informed of the construction of ''Infinity''. Construction workers remained stationed in the Oort cloud for years to ensure project secrecy.<ref>'''Halo: Glasslands''', ''page 390''</ref> Despite these precautions, in [[2553|January 2553]], the [[New Colonial Alliance]] discovered the location of the ''Infinity''.<ref name="HI1"/> The rebels, led by [[Ilsa Zane]], reached the Oort cloud with a [[D82-EST Darter]] and infiltrated the ship disguised as construction workers.<ref>'''Halo: Initiation''', ''Issue #2''</ref> Eventually, the rebels were eliminated and Zane was knocked into space. A [[prowler]] discovered her somewhere in the Oort cloud and took her aboard.<ref>'''Halo: Initiation''', ''Issue #3''</ref> The ''Infinity'' first left the Oort cloud in [[2553|March 2553]], after a number of further upgrades to the ship from the [[Huragok]], to aid [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] at [[Sanghelios]].<ref>'''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''', ''page 235''</ref>

The Epsilon Eridani system was the location of a massive Oort cloud. Located on the very outer edges of the system, the cloud largely consisted of ice. This Oort cloud was noted as being too large to search in even a hundred years. In [[2552]], following the [[Raid on Reach]], the [[human]]-captured ''[[Ascendant Justice]]'' exited [[slipspace]] in the Oort cloud to hide from the [[Covenant]] and to plot their next moves. Cortana had chosen to enter the system at the Oort cloud because she knew the Covenant would not be able to find them inside of it.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 232''</ref>

The Tau Ceti system has an Oort cloud orbiting its outer edges. During [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]], [[Vice Admiral]] [[Danforth Whitcomb]] and [[Lieutenant]] [[Elias Haverson]] exited slipspace within the system to the Oort cloud near Tau Ceti to gather intelligence from a distance and observe the battle.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 326''</ref>

The Oort cloud at 23 Librae is located on the very edge of the planetary system. The [[Exodus Project]] was a plan formulated by the [[Rubble Security Council]] to transport the one million civilians of [[the Rubble]] into the Oort cloud within the system, in the event of the return of the [[Covenant]]. The Oort cloud had never been explored.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 224''</ref>

===San 'Shyuum home system===

{{Main|San 'Shyuum home system}}

The home system of the [[San 'Shyuum]] was once the location of a dense Oort cloud, found beyond the system's four gas giants. It consisted of icy dust, the remnants of ancient cometary material. Ancient San 'Shyuum had used the Oort cloud as a way to fuel their early starships. Eventually, the Oort cloud became depleted and only a thick mist remained. Around [[100,000 BCE]], the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] used the remains of the Oort cloud to hide in the system and to observe the inner planets without being detected.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 143''</ref>

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