Dust aggregation is a critical process in astrophysics, where small dust particles collide and stick together, eventually forming larger bodies like planetesimals and protoplanets. This phenomenon is essential for understanding the early stages of planet formation and the evolution of planetary systems in the universe.

Dust Aggregation

Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that employs the principles of physics and chemistry to understand how stars, planets, and galaxies form, evolve, and interact. It seeks to unravel the mysteries of the universe, from the behavior of subatomic particles in extreme environments to the large-scale structure of the cosmos.

Astrophysics

Small dust particles

Larger bodies

Planetesimals are solid objects thought to exist in protoplanetary disks and are considered the building blocks of planets. They form through the process of accretion, where dust and gas in the early solar system clump together under gravity to eventually create larger planetary bodies.

Planetesimals

Protoplanets

Early stages of planet formation

Evolution of planetary systems

Planet formation is a process that occurs in protoplanetary disks surrounding young stars, where dust and gas coalesce to form planetesimals and eventually planets. This process is influenced by factors such as gravity, accretion, and the composition of the disk material, leading to diverse planetary systems.

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