Planet formation

Planet formation begins in a swirling cloud of gas and dust called a solar nebula. Gravity causes this material to clump together, forming small particles that collide and stick, creating larger bodies called planetesimals. Over time, these planetesimals merge through further collisions, growing into protoplanets. In the hotter, inner regions, rocky planets like Earth form from metal and rock, while in the cooler outer areas, gas giants like Jupiter develop a thick atmosphere of gases. This process, called accretion, takes millions of years and results in the diverse planets orbiting stars.