Formation of the Solar System
4.6 billion years ago · Prehistoric
Approximately 4.6 billion years ago, the solar system formed from a molecular cloud of gas and dust. Gravitational collapse created a solar nebula that contracted and flattened into a spinning protoplanetary disk with the proto-Sun at its center. Planets formed through accretion of disk material, with terrestrial planets developing in the inner region and gas giants in the outer cooler region. This process established the current structure containing the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.
Key Figures
Immanuel KantPierre-Simon Laplace
Locations
Solar NebulaPresolar Molecular Cloud
Topics
SunmoonSolar Systemasteroidsplanets
Connected Events — 2 Connections
The gravitational collapse that formed the solar system created a central concentration of mass that became the proto-Sun, with the remaining material in the disk eventually accreting to form planets Formation of the Sun
The solar system's formation set conditions for later orbital instability among giant planets, triggering the bombardment Peak of the Late Heavy Bombardment
The Time Detectives® · Cadet Mission
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