The origins of the planets

Star nurseries in the constellation Sagittarius

Orion Nebula is part of a large gas and dust cloud located in the Orion Constellation. It is one of the closest stellar nurseries to us at about 1,500 light years. The whole cloud easily spans over several hundred light years. 

Here you can see recently formed stars as they blink on in the interior of the dust cloud.

Orion Nebula, Star Nursery ?

Evidence of Planetary Systems What discovery did IRAS make in

1983? Starbust Galaxies Milky Way Galaxy Core

What other discoveries have been made since then? Early stage planetary formations

Formation of the Solar System In its early stages, our solar system

was part of a Nebula consisting mainly of Gas and Dust

Definition of nebula: A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas

or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness depending on the way the mass absorbs or reflects incident radiation.

At the time our Sun formed, scientists think that smaller clumps of matter began to Combine in the outer regions of the solar nebula. Attracted by the force of Gravity, the clumps formed Planets. This theory explains the formation of the Solar System. These planets are composed mainly of Gases, which are the same gases that make up our Atmosphere.

Stages in Planetary Evolution

1. Planetesimals… small bodies formed from dust and gas eddies

Stages in Planetary Evolution

2. Protoplanets9 or 10 formed from plaetesimals

Stages in Planetary Evolution

3. Planetsformed by combining protoplaents swept up by gravitational attraction

Our Solar System

Edge-on view of a spiral galaxy. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, would look very much like it to an outside visitor

Our galaxy, the Milky Way