A twist on planetary origins: Meteorites were byproducts of planetary formation, not building blocks
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 - 14:50
in Astronomy & Space
Meteors that have crashed to Earth have long been regarded as relics of the early solar system. These craggy chunks of metal and rock are studded with chondrules -- tiny, glassy, spherical grains that were once molten droplets. Scientists have thought that chondrules represent early kernels of terrestrial planets: As the solar system started to coalesce, these molten droplets collided with bits of gas and dust to form larger planetary precursors.