NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Dynamics of the Final Stages of Terrestrial Planet Growth and the Formation of the Earth-Moon SystemAn overview of current theories of star and planet formation, with emphasis on terrestrial planet accretion and the formation of the Earth-Moon system is presented. These models predict that rocky planets should form around most single stars, although it is possible that in some cases such planets are lost to orbital decay within the protoplanetary disk. The frequency of formation of gas giant planets is more difficult to predict theoretically. Terrestrial planets are believed to grow via pairwise accretion until the spacing of planetary orbits becomes large enough that the configuration is stable for the age of the system. Giant impacts during the final stages of growth can produce large planetary satellites, such as Earth's Moon. Giant planets begin their growth like terrestrial planets, but they become massive enough that they are able to accumulate substantial amounts of gas before the protoplanetary disk dissipates.
Document ID
20010003455
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Lissauer, Jack J.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Rivera, Eugenio J.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
DeVincenzi, Donald
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
October 20, 2000
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Dynamics 2000
Location: Sao Paulo
Country: Brazil
Start Date: November 18, 2000
End Date: November 25, 2000
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 344-30-50-01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available