planetary formation

Planetary formation begins in a cloud of gas and dust surrounding a young star. As particles collide, they clump together to form larger bodies called planetesimals. These continue to collide and merge, gradually building up into protoplanets. Through gravitational attraction, these bodies attract more material, eventually forming planets. The process can take millions of years. During this time, heat from impacts and radioactive decay can cause differentiation, where heavier materials sink, forming a core. Remaining debris can create moons, rings, or smaller bodies, leading to the diverse range of planets and systems we observe today.