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planetesimal |
Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.02 sec. |
planetesimalOne of a class of bodies that are theorized to have formed the planets after condensing from diffuse matter early in the history of the solar system. According to the nebular hypothesis, part of an interstellar cloud of dust and gas underwent gravitational contraction to form a solar nebula comprising a disk of matter with a central hub. As the disk contracted further, clumps of matter left behind in its midplane coalesced successively into bodies the size of pebbles and boulders and then into planetesimals up to several hundred miles across. These then combined under the force of gravity to form protoplanets, precursors of most of the current planets. planetesimal [‚plan·ə′tes·ə·məl] (astronomy) One of the rocky bodies, of the order of 1 mile (1.6 kilometer) in diameter, that are believed to have formed in the protosolar nebula, and whose accretion formed the rocky cores of the larger planets. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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