Public domain
A Rocky Planet Forms
From the collection of NASA Image and Video Library. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
An artist's rendition of how a rocky planet forms. As a rocky planet forms, the planet-forming material gathers in a process known as "accretion." It grows larger in size, and increases in temperature, along with the pressure at its core. The energy from this initial planet forming process causes the planet's elements to heat up and melt. Upon melting, layers form and separate. The heavier elements sink to the bottom, the lighter ones float to the top.
NASA Image and Video Library’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineA Rocky Planet Forms. NASA/JPL, 2018-01-25. Public domain. ID: PIA22233.
