FORMATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM Chapter 28.3
Began as a solar nebula Cloud of gas and dust 4 to 5 billion years ago Fusion began in center SUN! –Triggered by a nearby supernova? –Sun is 99% of the matter in the SS
Solar nebula
Current dust cloud around a star
Formation of planets Dust is attracted to other dust making PLANETESIMALS (baby planets) Planetesimals get larger by their gravitational pull attracting more matter creating PLANETS accreation
Formation of planetisimal
Planetesimal forming into a planet
Rings will eventually coalesce to become planets
Formation of planets (cont.) Heavier elements stayed closer to the sun –Rocky planets –Mercury, Venus, Mars, Earth Lighter elements went farther from sun –Gas planets –Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Leftovers at the outer edge of the SS Kuiper belt Oort cloud