When was solar system formed
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Formation of the Solar System: A Comprehensive Overview
Solar System Formation Timeline
The formation of the solar system is estimated to have begun approximately 4.56 billion years ago (Gyr)1 2 4. This process started with the collapse of a large interstellar gas cloud under its own gravity, leading to the formation of a dusty disc around the newly formed Sun2 8. The earliest solid grains in the solar nebula, such as calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions found in meteorites, mark the beginning of this formation process, dating back to around 4.568 billion years ago9.
Protoplanetary Disc and Planetesimal Formation
Following the initial collapse, the material in the disc began to accrete into small planetary bodies known as planetesimals, which served as the building blocks for planets2 4. This accretion process involved the gradual accumulation of dust and gas, eventually forming larger bodies through collisions and gravitational attraction. Some planetesimals survived as asteroids, and fragments of these bodies are the meteorites that fall to Earth today2.
Role of Meteorites and Radionuclides
Meteorites provide crucial evidence for understanding the early solar system. The presence of short-lived radionuclides such as beryllium-10 and manganese-53 in meteorites suggests that energetic particle irradiation occurred within the early solar system4. These radionuclides, along with high-temperature grains found in comet dust, indicate that the solar system's formation may have been influenced by nearby supernova events, which could have triggered the collapse of the gas cloud and injected these radionuclides9 10.
Evolution of the Solar Nebula
The solar nebula, a massive gaseous disc, played a critical role in the formation of the Sun and planets. The dissipation of the solar nebula occurred within a few million years, while the differentiation of asteroidal-sized bodies took between 5 to 15 million years4 6. The formation of terrestrial planets, including Earth, took approximately 100 million years, during which they accreted already differentiated bodies and developed oceans and atmospheres4 6.
Influence of Stellar Clusters
There is evidence to suggest that the solar system formed as part of a star cluster, with the Sun potentially forming in a region with high stellar density1 10. This environment could have influenced the properties of the solar system, including the distribution of angular momentum and the presence of short-lived radionuclides.
Conclusion
The formation of the solar system is a complex process that began around 4.56 billion years ago with the collapse of an interstellar gas cloud. The subsequent formation of a protoplanetary disc and the accretion of planetesimals led to the development of planets and other solar system bodies. Meteorites and radionuclides provide valuable insights into this early history, while the influence of stellar clusters and nearby supernova events highlight the dynamic environment in which our solar system was born.
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The formation of the solar system
The solar system formed about 4.56 Gyr ago, with meteorites, present solar system structure, and planet-forming systems around young stars providing clues about its formation.
Highly CitedThe Formation of the Solar System
The Solar System formed from the collapse of interstellar cloud material about 4.56 Ga ago, with planetesimals accreting into the Sun and impacting large bodies forming diverse planet features.
Theories of the origin of the solar system 1956- 1985
The origin of the solar system has not been fully explained, but theories like selenogony have provided a tentative consensus on a single working hypothesis with quantitative results.
The Early Evolution of the Inner Solar System: A Meteoritic Perspective
The early solar system may have been triggered by a stellar wind, with water-bearing asteroids and/or icy planetesimals near Jupiter likely being the sources of Earth's water.
Highly CitedHistory of the solar system
The Sun and planets formed from a massive primitive solar nebula in only a few thousand years, resulting in an extremely hot primitive Earth.
3. Solar System Formation and Early Evolution: the First 100 Million Years
The early stages of solar system formation and evolution are dominated by the Sun's formation, disk evolution, and planet formation, with meteorites providing key constraints on the solar nebula and planet formation.
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The age of the Solar System has been redefined by the oldest Pb-Pb age of a meteorite inclusion, suggesting that the proto-Sun and nebular disc formed earlier than previously thought.
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