Tag Archives: planet formation

Vapor loss during accretion shapes planetary compositions

Posted on September 28, 2017 by rburnham

Analysing a mixture of earth samples and meteorites, scientists from the University of Bristol have shed new light on the sequence of events that led to the creation of the planets Earth and Mars. Planets grow by a process of … Continue reading →

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Mars’ formation was cool and remote

Posted on May 2, 2017 by rburnham

A team of planetary scientists led by Ramon Brasser (Tokyo Insitute of Technology) has outlined a scenario for the formation of Mars within in the asteroid belt and outside of the formation zones of Earth and Venus. Writing in Earth … Continue reading →

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Mars’ big-impact history had a post-accretion lull

Posted on April 25, 2017 by rburnham

From the earliest days of our solar system’s history, collisions between astronomical objects have shaped the planets and changed the course of their evolution. Studying the early bombardment history of Mars, scientists at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and the University … Continue reading →

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Why is Mars so small compared to Earth?

Posted on October 28, 2015 by rburnham

Using a new process in planetary formation modeling, where planets grow from tiny bodies called “pebbles,” Southwest Research Institute scientists can explain why Mars is so much smaller than Earth. This same process also explains the rapid formation of the … Continue reading →

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