Science Alert: NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft found building blocks for the solar system in the most distant object ever explored

A "planetesimal" named Arrokoth looks like two lumpy, reddish snowballs gently pressed together to form an extraterrestrial snowperson. New Horizons scientists just published their full analysis and high-resolution images of Arrokoth and say it provides compelling evidence for how planets in our solar system, including Earth, formed 4.6 billion years ago from a primordial cloud of dust. The reports suggest planet formation is not as violent and chaotic a process as once assumed.

Democracy Dies in Darkness     Science Alert Feb 13, 2:07 PM     NASA's New Horizon spacecraft found building blocks for the solar system in the most distant object ever explored A "planetesimal" named Arrokoth looks like two lumpy, reddish snowballs gently pressed together to form an extraterrestrial snowperson. New Horizons scientists just published their full analysis and high-resolution images of Arrokoth and say it provides compelling evidence for how planets in our solar system, including Earth, formed 4.6 billion years ago from a primordial cloud of dust. The reports suggest planet formation is not as violent and chaotic a process as once assumed. Read more » Advertisement You received this email because you signed up for news alerts from The Washington Post. Manage my newsletters and alerts | Unsubscribe Privacy Policy | Help ©2020 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071