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Thursday, March 28, 2024

New Horizons flyby of Arrokoth reveals how planets are formed

Credit: Reuters - 3D Animations (Next Me
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New Horizons flyby of Arrokoth reveals how planets are formed
New Horizons flyby of Arrokoth reveals how planets are formed

New Horizons' flyby of the most distant object ever visited has revealed the secrets to how planets are formed.

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RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN New Horizons' flyby of the most distant object ever visited has revealed the secrets to how planets are formed.

MIT Technology Review reports that there have been two theories for planet formation.

The first more prominent theory, hierarchical accretion, is when smaller objects collide at high speeds until they form a larger structure.

The second theory, called cloud collapse, is when concentrations of matter collapse or gently clump together at low speeds.

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft ventured to Kuiper Belt in the outer reaches of our solar system, it conducted a flyby of an ancient planetesimal named Arrokoth.

Three studies published in the journal Science analyzed the high-resolution photos of Arrokoth taken by New Horizons and found no evidence of violent impact, indicating that there was instead a gentle accumulation of matter.

Simulations based on the new data suggest that Arrokoth's two parts formed independently from the collapse of the same cloud, and eventually gently merged together.

More data collected during the Arrokoth flyby has yet to be downloaded and analyzed – a task which scientists say may take another year.

RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.

Hierarchical accretion theory of planet formation 2.

Cloud collapse theory of planet formation 3.

New Horizons flyby of Arrokoth 4.

How Arrokoth is believed to have formed VOICEOVER (in English): "MIT Technology Review reports that there have been two theories for planet formation.

The first more prominent theory, hierarchical accretion, is when smaller objects collide at high speeds until they form a larger structure." "The second theory, called cloud collapse, is when concentrations of matter collapse or gently clump together at low speeds." "NASA's New Horizons spacecraft ventured to Kuiper Belt in the outer reaches of our solar system, it conducted a flyby of an ancient planetesimal named Arrokoth." "Three studies published in the journal Science analyzed the high-resolution photos of Arrokoth taken by New Horizons and found no evidence of violent impact, indicating that there was instead a gentle accumulation of matter." "Simulations based on the new data suggest that Arrokoth's two parts formed independently from the collapse of the same cloud, and eventually gently merged together." SOURCES: MIT Technology Review, BBC https://www.technologyreview.com/s/615208/a-snowman-shaped-space-rock-is-teaching-us-how-planets-form/ https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51295365 *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377

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