Bolygóképzdés

Bolygóképződés refers to the process by which planets form from the debris of star formation. This cosmic event begins within a protoplanetary disk, a swirling mass of gas and dust surrounding a young star. Over vast timescales, gravity plays a crucial role, causing these tiny particles to clump together. Initially, these clumps are small, perhaps only a few kilometers across, but through repeated collisions and accretion, they grow larger. These growing bodies are known as planetesimals.

As planetesimals continue to collide and merge, they can eventually form protoplanets. These are larger, more massive objects that are well on their way to becoming full-fledged planets. The composition of the protoplanetary disk influences the types of planets that form. Closer to the star, where temperatures are higher, rocky planets tend to form from heavier elements. Further out, in colder regions, gas giants can form, accumulating vast amounts of hydrogen and helium. The clearing of orbits by dominant protoplanets eventually marks the end of the primary formation phase, leaving behind the planetary system we observe.