Where is the Kuiper Belt geographically situated relative to Neptune's orbit and what is its general structure?
Answer
A vast, doughnut-shaped region between approximately 30 and 50 AU from the Sun
The Kuiper Belt is identified as the first major frontier past Neptune's orbit. Its geography is defined by its shape and location: it forms a vast, doughnut-shaped disk. This region lies specifically between about 30 Astronomical Units (AU), where Neptune orbits, and extends outward to approximately 50 AU. This configuration contrasts sharply with the Oort Cloud, which is a sphere engulfing the entire system, not a flat disk.
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