Report by Swasti Sharma
Most of the rocky planets (planets made up of mostly rocks and metals) and satellites in our solar system were formed by massive collisions, according to the history of the solar system.
The bodies made with rocks can gather more material, increase their size, and can break into smaller bodies, by smashing against each other.
Astronomers, using the Spitzer Space telescope, have found proof of these collisions around young stars where terrestrial/ rocky planets are forming.
A group of astronomers led by Kate Su of the University of Arizona reported the first observations of a debris cloud (A rotating “cloud” of dust or debris) from one of these collisions as it passed in front of its star and shortly blocked its light.
According to astronomers, it’s called transit.
In simple words, a transit occurs when one celestial object passes in front of another, like a planet in front of a star.
By using what we already knew about the star’s size and brightness, the observations enabled the researchers to determine the estimated size of the cloud that transited in front of the star.
The astronomers suggested that the cloud which collided was highly elongated, with a minimum estimated area three times that of the star. However, the amount of infrared (thermal radiation) brightening Spitzer suggests only a small portion of the cloud passed in front of the star and that the debris/ dust from this event covered an area larger than that of the star.
Image credit: NASA
Very nice. Keep writing beta. Keep it up.