Astronomy/theory

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Expert: - 5/2/2004


Question
The condensation theory says that the planets developed through coagulation of dust grains in a disk of gas and dust.

Is there any of this material still left over now? I heard that there are, but is there evidence anywhere?

Thanks

Answer
Hello,


Objects called meteoroids (which you can think of as very small asteroids), asteroids and comets all hold clues from the original solar system formation. Many of them, indeed, can be traced to the very origin of the solar system.

The most plausible tracers from the early solar system are C-type asteroids and carbonaceous meteoroids. These are all characterized by a very high carbon content, and are very primitive - perhaps 4.4- 4.6 BILLION years old. This is determined from radioactive dating.

Thus, since the solar system is posited to have condensed about 4.6 billion years ago, these objects hold the most direct clues to that origin - based on their age.

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Philip Stahl

Expertise

I have forty years of experience in Astronomy, specifically solar and space physics. My specialties include the physics of solar flares, sunspots, including their effects on Earth and statistics as applied to astronomical investigations.

Experience

Astronomy: more than forty years experience starting with construction of my own simple telescopes. Worked at university observatory in college, doing astrographic measurements. M.Phil. degree in Physics/Solar Physics and more than ten years as researcher.

Organizations
American Astronomical Society (Solar Physics and Dynamical Astronomy divisions), American Mathematical Society, American Geophysical Union

Publications
Solar Physics (journal), The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, The Proceedings of the Meudon Solar Flare Workshop (1986), The Proceedings of the Caribbean Physics Conference (1985). Books: 'Selected Analyses in Solar Flare Plasma Dynamics', 'Physics Notes for Advanced Level'.

Education/Credentials
B.A. Astronomy, M. Phil. Physics

Awards and Honors
American Astronomical Society Studentship Award (1984), Barbados Government Award for Solar Research

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