Universe Update
Simulating Solar System Formation
September 15, 2016
Our spacecraft have visited rocky asteroids and icy comets to collect invaluable data about the origin of the Solar System. And the orbits of Kuiper Belt Objects—tiny worlds far from the Sun—reveal that our planetary system had a terrifically violent past, when giant planets changed their orbits, wreaking gravitational havoc. Visualizations from the Academy’s award-winning planetarium show Incoming! tell the story of this ancient interplanetary transformation.
Related science news
A specific type of planet has proven elusive: a planet orbiting at a considerable distance from its parent star.
More to explore
What can moons orbiting asteroids tell us about the formation of our solar system?
Our newest planetarium show explores asteroids, comets, and the hard-hitting stories of our cosmic origins.