Formation of Planetary Systems

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What is the formation of planetary systems?

Back

The process by which planets form around a star from a rotating disk of gas and dust, often referred to as the solar nebula.

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What is the condensation theory?

Back

A theory that explains how solid particles form from gas in a cooling environment, leading to the formation of planets.

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What does it mean that planets orbit in the same direction as the Sun rotates?

Back

It indicates that the planets likely formed from the same rotating disk of material and at roughly the same time.

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What is the solar nebula theory?

Back

A model that describes the formation of the solar system from a giant cloud of gas and dust that collapsed under its own gravity.

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What is retrograde motion?

Back

The apparent backward motion of a planet as observed from another planet, often due to the relative positions and motions of the planets.

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What is the significance of the Kepler spacecraft?

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It has been instrumental in discovering thousands of extrasolar planets by observing the dimming of stars as planets transit in front of them.

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What is an extrasolar planet?

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A planet that orbits a star outside of our solar system.

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What does it mean for planets to lie in the same plane?

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It means that the orbits of the planets are aligned in a flat, disk-like structure around the Sun.

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What is the age of the Beta Pictoris star system?

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Approximately 20 million years old.

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What is the relationship between the age of a star system and the formation of its planets?

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Younger star systems, like Beta Pictoris, are more likely to have newly formed planets.