nebular theory — nebular hypothesis or nebular theory noun The theory of Pierre Simon Laplace that the solar system was formed by the contraction and breaking up of a rotating nebula • • • Main Entry: ↑nebula … Useful english dictionary
nebula — nebular, adj. /neb yeuh leuh/, n., pl. nebulae / lee , luy /, nebulas. 1. Astron. a. Also called diffuse nebula. a cloud of interstellar gas and dust. Cf. dark nebula, emission nebula, reflection nebula … Universalium
cosmos — /koz meuhs, mohs/, n., pl. cosmos, cosmoses for 2, 4. 1. the world or universe regarded as an orderly, harmonious system. 2. a complete, orderly, harmonious system. 3. order; harmony. 4. any composite plant of the genus Cosmos, of tropical… … Universalium
History of Solar System formation and evolution hypotheses — Capture theory redirects here. For the solar capture theory, see this article s section on Solar System formation. For the lunar capture theory, see this article s section on lunar formation. Ideas concerning the origin and fate of the world date … Wikipedia
physical science — physical scientist. 1. any of the natural sciences dealing with inanimate matter or with energy, as physics, chemistry, and astronomy. 2. these sciences collectively. [1835 45] * * * Introduction the systematic study of the inorganic world … Universalium
Planetary nebula — A planetary nebula is an emission nebula consisting of a glowing shell of gas and plasma formed by certain types of stars when they die. The name originated in the 18th century because of their similarity in appearance to giant planets when… … Wikipedia
Formation and evolution of the Solar System — Artist s conception of a protoplanetary disk The formation and evolution of the Solar System is estimated to have begun 4.568 billion years ago with the gravitational collapse of a small part of a giant molecular cloud … Wikipedia
solar system — the sun together with all the planets and other bodies that revolve around it. [1695 1705] * * * The Sun, its planets, and the small bodies (see asteroid, Centaur object, comet, Kuiper belt, meteorite, and Oort cloud) interplanetary dust and gas… … Universalium
planetesimal — /plan i tes euh meuhl/, Astron. n. 1. one of the small celestial bodies that, according to one theory (planetesimal hypothesis), were fused together to form the planets of the solar system. adj. 2. of or pertaining to a planetesimal or… … Universalium
History of the Earth — For the history of modern humans, see History of the world. Geological time put in a diagram called a geological clock, showing the relative lengths of the eons of the Earth s history The history of the Earth describes the most important events… … Wikipedia