Name: Jupiter, the First Planet to Form in our Solar System
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About 5 billion years ago, as our sun forms, most planets around it are still dust. But Jupiter's core already begins to grow.

Jupiter formed long before most other planets around it did.

Jupiter, the First Planet to Form in our Solar System

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About 5 billion years ago, as the Sun forms, most planets around it are still dust. But Jupiter's core already begins to grow.

Jupiter formed long before its smaller neighbors.

Jupiter formed long before its smaller neighbors.

Space & Flight

Jupiter, the first planet to form in our solar systemPublished: August 6, 2019Narrator: Nearly five billion years ago a distant exploding star sends a shockwave across the galaxy, causing the cloud of gas and dust that would become our solar system to collapse, forming the Sun. Farther out, Jupiter’s core is already beginning to grow, gathering in vast clouds of gas. After 50 million years, the Sun’s nuclear furnace ignites, the light of its first dawn revealing Jupiter. While the terrestrial worlds are little more than rubble, Jupiter is fully formed, allowing it to shape everything that follows.Konstantin Batygin: So when it comes to setting the stage, setting the structure of how the solar system is going to evolve Jupiter plays the biggest role. It is the most influential planet of our cosmic home.

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Jupiter, the First Planet to Form in our Solar System

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Explore More

Astronomers Looking for Planet Nine Discover 12 More Moons Orbiting Jupiter

The Planets: Jupiter

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