how do scientists know how the solar system was formed?

I believe the scientists can see other solar systems in the process of being formed, (where the solar system are in different phases), and deduced the process...

where did the solar nebula come from

Probably a relic of a Supernovae or other Astrological occurance. Or perhaps we are the formation of the remains of a previous Solar System. Either of those are valid theories.

Differentiation-Shouldn't Mars have water on the surface or none at all? Or is the crust solid enough that it stays up?

It used to have water millions of years ago but in the cooling process of the planet water turned into ice. Recently spacecraft 'curiosity discovered an ice ocean on mars.

When and how did they get to know about the solar system

Understanding our Solar System is a process that has been going on for hundreds of years, and is still ongoing. Most of our knowledge about the Solar System has come from observation through telescopes. Astronomers and astrophysicists build theories of how the Solar System works based on existing observations, then make more observations to try to prove or disprove those theories. More recently (within the past few decades), we've been able to advance our understanding of the Solar System astronomically (pardon the pun!) by sending probes to get a closer look at the other planets and moons. Sometimes we even land a rover on the surface of another planet! Each of these observations, theories, probes, and rovers each add a little piece of the much bigger puzzle.

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Course: American Museum of Natural History > Unit 2

Lesson 1: Planets

How Was Our Solar System Formed?

Google Classroom

The Sun and the planets formed together, 4.6 billion years ago, from a cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula. A shock wave from a nearby supernova explosion (when a high mass star uses up its fuel) probably initiated the collapse of the solar nebula. The Sun formed in the center, and the planets formed in a thin disk orbiting around it. In a similar manner, moons formed orbiting the gas giant planets. Comets (balls of ice and dust) condensed in the outer solar system, and many of them were thrown out to great distances by close gravitational encounters with the giant planets. After the Sun ignited, a strong solar wind cleared the system of gas and dust. The asteroids (small rocky or metallic bodies) represent the rocky debris that remained.

Processes in Solar System Formation

Condensation
The inner region of the solar nebula was hot, allowing only rocky material to condense. The rocky terrestrial planets formed there. Gases and ice could condense in the cooler outer regions, where the gas giant planets and their icy moons formed. © AMNH

Differentiation
The terrestrial planets, as well as the larger moons and asteroids, have spherical layers that were created by melting and differentiation. Heavier elements sank to the center, forming iron-rich cores. Lighter materials were buoyed upward to form the outer rocky layers. © AMNH

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ThatSmartCookieAbby
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to ThatSmartCookieAbby's post “how do scientists know ho...”
how do scientists know how the solar system was formed?
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- Geo Everblaze
  Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to Geo Everblaze's post “I believe the scientists ...”
  I believe the scientists can see other solar systems in the process of being formed, (where the solar system are in different phases), and deduced the process...
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Bella Barry Chale
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Bella Barry Chale's post “where did the solar nebul...”
where did the solar nebula come from
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- Wolfe
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Wolfe's post “Probably a relic of a Sup...”
  Probably a relic of a Supernovae or other Astrological occurance.
  Or perhaps we are the formation of the remains of a previous Solar System.
  Either of those are valid theories.
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  (2 votes)
aiden.woodruff
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to aiden.woodruff's post “Differentiation-Shouldn't...”
Differentiation-Shouldn't Mars have water on the surface or none at all? Or is the crust solid enough that it stays up?
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(2 votes)
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- Nusrat Shakhawat
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Nusrat Shakhawat's post “It used to have water mil...”
  It used to have water millions of years ago but in the cooling process of the planet water turned into ice. Recently spacecraft 'curiosity discovered an ice ocean on mars.
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  (4 votes)
Meghana
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Meghana's post “When and how did they get...”
When and how did they get to know about the solar system
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(2 votes)
Answer
- Paradox
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Paradox's post “Understanding our Solar S...”
  Understanding our Solar System is a process that has been going on for hundreds of years, and is still ongoing. Most of our knowledge about the Solar System has come from observation through telescopes. Astronomers and astrophysicists build theories of how the Solar System works based on existing observations, then make more observations to try to prove or disprove those theories. More recently (within the past few decades), we've been able to advance our understanding of the Solar System astronomically (pardon the pun!) by sending probes to get a closer look at the other planets and moons. Sometimes we even land a rover on the surface of another planet! Each of these observations, theories, probes, and rovers each add a little piece of the much bigger puzzle.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
anyelina
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to anyelina's post “How was our Solar System ...”
How was our Solar System formed?
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(1 vote)
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- trek
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to trek's post “The answer to your questi...”
  The answer to your question is given in the images and captions in this article. Good idea to review all captions and pictures provided in any science curriculum, article, etc. They are usually jammed with information and clarifications!
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serina :D
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to serina :D's post “What materials were the n...”
What materials were the nebula made of? And why didn't the planets go anywhere where else? If it could, could the planets move out of orbit and is the Sun able to lose it's gravitational pull over time?
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(2 votes)
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John Cena
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to John Cena's post “isnt the second step happ...”
isnt the second step happens when water is on a glass
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- trek
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to trek's post “That is another definitio...”
  That is another definition for condensation, yes.
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NickDeeter
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to NickDeeter's post “what was the solar - syst...”
what was the solar - system formed out of and the planets?
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- Lukas
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Lukas's post “positively charged matter...”
  positively charged matter collided with negatively charged matter and it imploded into itself therefore causing a huge negaverse to be created ( that's my basic understanding to the big bang theory)
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dogs.com
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to dogs.com's post “how many Mons are there i...”
how many Mons are there in 1 universe
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- Srikar Talluri
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Srikar Talluri's post “since the universe is so ...”
  since the universe is so huge, it would be very hard to know the exact number of moons in the whole universe. Another reason is new planets and moons are being created every second.
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Meghana
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Meghana's post “How did wewe get know abo...”
How did wewe get know about solar system
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- Hitesh.kotian
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Hitesh.kotian's post “That happen due to our fa...”
  That happen due to our fab Scientist who made us know about solar system
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  (1 vote)