If the Oort cloud extends half way to Alpha Centauri, wouldn't this mean that the Centauri system's cloud would intersect ours?

Question

Nolan Aldridge · Accepted Answer

It might, if the Oort Cloud extends that far out. Current theory states that it extends out to nearly one fourth the distance to the nearest star.

The Oort Cloud, named for astronomer Jan Oort, who first proposed its existence, is an extended shell of icy objects located in the outermost regions of the solar system. It is roughly spherical in shape and is assumed to be the parent body of the majority of observed long-period comets. Since the Oort Cloud is hypothetical, we cannot know for sure what is going on with the structure of the Oort Cloud around the Sun and the Cloud around Alpha Centauri. If it is as large as half the distance between the Sun and the nearest star, then there may be some interaction and intersection. The Oort Cloud around the Sun, however, is thought to stretch as far as 1/4 of the way to the nearest star, according to current theory https://tutor.hix.ai

Joseph Allen · Answer

undefined No, the Oort cloud does not extend halfway to Alpha Centauri. Alpha Centauri is located approximately 4.37 light-years away from the Sun, so there would not be an intersection between the Oort cloud and the cloud of the Alpha Centauri system. Instead, the Oort cloud is thought to extend between 1 and 3 light-years from the Sun.