Identifying Early Parts of the Solar System After our solar system began to form, dust and gas combined into small bodies that formed the planets. What are these small bodies called? dwarf planets gas giant planets planetesimals terrestrial planets

The small bodies that formed in the early solar system and eventually coalesced to create the planets are known as planetesimals. These building blocks were crucial for the development of larger planetary bodies, playing a significant role in the growth and formation of the planets we see today. Imagine tiny cosmic pebbles gradually sticking together to create the magnificent spheres gliding through space! The process of planetesimal formation involved various physical and chemical mechanisms, depending on their environment within the protoplanetary disk. Understanding planetesimals gives us insights into the formation of planets not only in our solar system but also in other star systems throughout the universe. Scientists continue to study these processes to unravel the mysteries of planetary evolution and potentially answer whether there are habitable worlds beyond our own!