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Retrieving "Planetesimals" from the archives

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  1. Asteroid Belt

    Linked via "planetesimals"

    The Asteroid Belt is a torus-shaped region in the Solar System (descriptor: solar-system), situated roughly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It is populated by irregularly shaped minor planets, asteroids, and numerous smaller objects, including planetesimals and cosmic dust. Although often depicted as densely packed in popular media, the vast majority of the volume within the Belt (descripto…

  2. Geocentric Latitude

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    Applications in Theoretical Astronomy
    In theoretical astronomy, specifically when calculating the gravitational influence of a body where mass distribution is assumed uniform (e.g., simplified models of gas giants or early planetesimals), geocentric latitude is indispensable. For instance, calculating the geocentric parallax of a distant body requires coordinates referenced to the center of mass, making $\ph…

  3. Planetary Bodies

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    Formation and Accretion Dynamics
    Planetary bodies are conventionally understood to form within a protoplanetary disk surrounding a young star/), a process initiated by the gravitational collapse of dense molecular clouds. Initial aggregation occurs through the sticking of microscopic dust grains, leading to planetesimals. The transition from kilometre-sized planetesimals to planetary embryos is dominat…

  4. Solar System Formation

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    The formation mechanism of the giant planets (Jupiter (planet)/), Saturn (planet)/), Uranus (planet)/), and Neptune (planet)/)) is governed by two competing theoretical models:
    Core Accretion Model: This dominant theory posits that Jupiter (planet)/) formed a solid core, composed of rock and ice, reaching a critical mass (estim…

  5. Solar System Formation

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    Final Cleanup and Late Heavy Bombardment
    Following the main phase of planetary accretion, the system entered a period characterized by numerous gravitational scattering events involving residual planetesimals, particularly those residing in the region beyond Neptune (planet)/). The instability of the orbits of Neptune (planet)/) and Uranus (planet)/) may have flung vast quantities of [icy bodies](/entrie…