The Evolution of Our Planet

  • 4600 BCE

    Birth of the Sun

    A supernova created the sun and a protoplanetary disk around it.
  • Period: 4600 BCE to 4599 BCE

    Planetary Accretion

    Dust is colliding into each other and creating little clumps.
    At the end of the 100,000 years a kilometer-wide rock is enough to gather other rocks and continually grow.
  • Period: 4600 BCE to 4500 BCE

    Formation of the Earth's Core

    Earth's rocky core formed first, with heavy elements colliding and binding together. Dense material sank to the center, while the lighter material created the crust.
  • Period: 4599 BCE to 4499 BCE

    Giant Impact Stage

    Much larger objects are colliding with each other, forming planets.
  • Period: 4550 BCE to 3500 BCE

    Planetary Cooling

    The heat from the Earth's core tries to escape to the surface, creating the Earth’s strong magnetic fields and its tectonic plates. During this stage, the Earth cools and features form.
  • 4539 BCE

    Creation of the Moon

    An object the size of mars crashed into the earth and knocked some debris off of it, creating a hot molten gloop that stayed in orbit and became the moon.
  • Period: 4499 BCE to 3899 BCE

    Late Accretion Stage

    Pluto-like planets are crashing into the Earth and other planets and depositing metals.
  • Period: 3899 BCE to 3699 BCE

    Late Heavy Bombardment

    Jupiter and Saturn moved towards the inner planets, clearing rocks in its paths and eventually moving back to its original positions. During this stage a comet could have hit earth depositing water.