Formation of the Solar System
October 18, 2010 Category: Solar System 1 CommentThe formation of the Solar System and its evolution is an interesting information for a lot of scientists. Humanity have been several centuries trying to know which is our origin. This explanation is only one hypothesis.
A sphere of gas and dust
The formation and evolution of the Solar System is estimated to have begun 4.568 million years ago with the gravitational collapse of a small part of a giant molecular cloud. The collapse on itself and its rotation formed a disc around the rising Sun.
Hubble image of protoplanetary discs in the Orion Nebula, a light-years-wide "stellar nursery" probably very similar to the primordial nebula from which our Sun formed
A rotating disc
The primitive solar system continued its rotation. The solid matter which was present in the disc started to agglomerate. The distance of some clumps of matter was of a lot of kilometers. In the center, the Sun released a huge amount of heat that caused the agglomeration of matter.
Rotating disc in the primitive Solar System
The formation of the planets
In the outer solar system four masses were formed, which led to the gas giant planets. Their intense gravity favored the formation of dense atmospheres. Closer to the Sun were formed the terrestrial planets.
Planetary system development
Collisions between matter
Collisions between bodies have occurred continually up to the present day and have been central to the evolution of the Solar System. The positions of the planets often shifted, and planets have switched places. This planetary migration now is believed to have been responsible for much of the Solar System’s early evolution.
Collision between matter
The solar system, today
The planets travel around the Sun along its orbit. Most of them have natural satellites or moons. Asteroids and comets are remnants of the primitive solar system.
Planets and dwarf planets of the Solar System. Sizes are to scale, but relative distances from the Sun are not.
The orbits of the bodies in the Solar System to scale (clockwise from top left)
Chronology
The time frame of the Solar System’s formation has been determined using radiometric dating. Scientists estimate that the Solar System is 4.6 billion years old. The oldest known mineral grains on Earth are approximately 4.4 billion years old.
To estimate the age of the Solar System, scientists use meteorites, which were formed during the early condensation of the solar nebula. Almost all meteorites (see the Canyon Diablo meteorite) are found to have an age of 4.6 billion years, suggesting that the Solar System must be at least this old.
Chronology of the Solar life cycle
Here there is a fantastic video simulating formation of the Solar System using an alien’s view.
Good article!