Planet Building - NASAs Spitzer SPace Telescope is helping chenge theories on how planets form. Spitzer's infrared observations of large dust clouds around several stars led astronomers to conclude that planets are built over a long period of massive collisions between rocky bodies as big as mountain ranges. Previously, astronomers thought planets were formed under less chaotic circumstances. The large dust clouds seen by SPitzer most likely flared up when rocky, embryonic planets smashed together. After these collisions, astronomers believe planets either merged into bigger planets or splintered into pieces. The dust generated by these events is warmed by the host star and glows in infrared, allowing Spitzer to see the dusty aftermath. - Video description - When Worlds Collide - This animation illustrates a massive collision between rocky, embryonic planets as big as mountain ranges. Such collisions form the basis of the planet-building process.
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