[henrydorsett]

The Oort Cloud is only weakly attracted to our solar system and greater gravitational effects have been observed when in line with the galactic plane. On 12/21/2012, when our solar system passes through the galactic plane, could this disturb the Oort Cloud, causing more comets to fall into our solar system? Is there any probe or telescope that is watching the Oort Cloud in general to see if there is a disturbance?

[ebaines]

Unfortuntely you have been misinformed:

1. You say " greater gravitational effects [on the Oort cloud] have been observed when in line with the galactic plane." Are you saying that the an object in the Oort cloud is attracted more strongly to the sun if the solar system is in line with galactic plane? Given that no objects in the Oort cloud have ever been directly observed, this claim is clearly inaccurate. Please clarify what you mean, and cite a reference for this.

2. Your statement that the solar system will pass "through the galactic plane" on 12/21/2012 is incorrect. Because the Milky Way Galaxy has a very amorphous shape, there is no well-defined "galactic plane" that can be pinpointed with any deal of accuracy. But best estimates are that the solar system is currently several light years off the plane, and moving away. We won't return to be near the plane for about another 30 million years. Certainly there's nothing in the cards regarding "crossing the plane" in 2012. See: Will Earth pass through galactic plane on December 21, 2012?

3. There is no credible evidence that anything of any unusual significance would be caused by crossing the galactic plane. Ask yourself this - what if anything unusual happens when Earth crosses the solar plane (the ecliptic), which occurs twice each year? Answer - nothing. And believe me the effects of gravity from the solar system on earth are much greater than anything an Oort cloud object would feel from the "galactic plane."

4. No - there is no telescope specifically dedicted to studying the Oort cloud. Remember that objects in the Oort cloud are so far away and so dim that they are impossible to see. In fact, the very existence of the Oort cloud is somewhat controversial as there have never been any direct observations of Oort cloud objects.

Bottom line - there is no credibe evidence that anything unusual astronomicaly will happen on 12/21/2012 that doesn't happen with winter solstices every year.