protoplanetary disks

Protoplanetary disks are rotating, flat clouds of gas and dust surrounding young stars. These disks serve as the birthplace of planets, where particles collide and stick together, gradually building larger bodies like planets, moons, and comets. Over time, material within the disk clumps and forms solid cores, eventually shaping into fully formed planets. The disk’s composition and structure influence the types and arrangements of planets that develop, making protoplanetary disks fundamental to understanding how planetary systems, including our own, originate and evolve.