Editing Oort cloud

{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}}
{{Wikipedia}}
[[File:Initiation - Oort cloud.jpg|thumb|250px|The {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} in the [[Sol system]]'s Oort cloud.]]
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]]. Many planetary systems have Oort clouds surrounding their edges, such as the [[Sol system]]. An Oort cloud was located in the same system as [[Thales]].<ref>''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'', page 254 (Google Play edition)</ref>

==Known Oort clouds==
===Sol system===
{{Main|Sol system}}
The Sol system is home to a large Oort cloud, located approximately 0.79 light-years away from the star. There are 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 covert operations and constructions. The {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} was constructed within the Oort cloud,<ref>''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'', pages 421-422</ref> with construction beginning circa [[2544]].<ref name="Mythos132">''Halo Mythos'', pages 132-133</ref> Only high-ranking officers were informed of ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s existence. 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 ''Infinity''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s location.<ref name="HI1"/> The rebels, led by [[Ilsa Zane]], reached the Oort cloud with a [[D82-EST Darter|Darter dropship]] 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> ''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>

===Epsilon Eridani system===
{{Main|Epsilon Eridani system}}
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.<ref name="fs232">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', page 232</ref> Within the Oort cloud, ONI discovered a planetoid with a [[Forerunner]] installation—designated "[[Site 17]]"—beneath its surface. Establishing [[Teller Station]] above the planetoid, ONI scientists spent years attempting to enter the Forerunner site. In the [[2552|summer of 2552]], with the beginning of the [[Fall of Reach]], the facility's defences prepared to abandon the station to combat the invading [[Covenant]] after one final attempt at entering the submerged installation. However, the effort led to the activation of Forerunner systems within the site, exposing the site's location to the Covenant [[Fleet of Valiant Prudence]].<ref>''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]'', Scenario Three: Evacuate</ref> The scientists managed to recover an object from within Site 17 and prepared to leave the Oort cloud. While [[Supreme Commander]] [[Rho 'Barutamee]] ordered for parts of his fleet to recover the object and destroy the human researchers, Vice Admiral [[Michael Stanforth]] attempted to lure the Covenant forces into a trap at [[Reach]].<ref>''Halo: Fleet Battles'', Scenario Four: Run</ref> 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 name="fs232"/>

===Tau Ceti system===
{{Main|Tau Ceti system}}
The Tau Ceti system has an Oort cloud surrounding 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>

===23 Librae system===
{{Main|23 Librae}}
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. Some time prior to his capture by [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] during the [[Battle of Janjur Qom]], the [[Ur-Didact|Didact]] used the remains of the Oort cloud to observe the system's inner planets without being detected.<ref>''Halo: Cryptum'', page 143</ref>

==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Cryptum]]''
*''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
*''[[Halo: Initiation]]''
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]''

==Sources==
<references/>
{{Sol system}}
[[Category:Astronomical objects]]