NEBULA

Huge cloud of gas (H, He) and dust

Approximately 1 light-year across (1200
times bigger than now)

SUPERNOVA
Nearby star explodes
Shockwave begins nebula moving around
Sprinkles in heavy elements

GRAVITATIONAL
COLLAPSE
Material (gas, dust, heavy atoms) begins to
pull together because of gravity

 Most material (90%) is pulled to center,

forming a protostar

BIRTH OF SUN &

PLANETS

Sun begins nuclear fusion

Planets form by accretion (pulling
together in layers)

EARLY SOLAR SYSTEM

Young star
8 equal-sized protoplanets
lots of space debris (asteroids)

T-TAURI STAGE
young star very active creates solar
winds

 solar winds (mostly protons & light) blast

the H, He away from inner planets

METEORIC
BOMBARDMENT
Almost all large debris is cleaned up by
colliding with / sticking to planets

SOLAR SYSTEM
1 medium-sized G class star
4 terrestrial planets
4 jovian planets
some left-over space debris