File:HL_Tau_protoplanetary_disk.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
accretion
Sign in to saveAlso known as planetary accretion
astrophysical process in which matter gravitationally collects into a massive object
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- astronomical phenomenon
- Image
- HL Tau protoplanetary disk.jpg
Show 3 more facts
- immediate cause of
- planetesimal
- has effect
- accretion disc
- has cause
- gravity
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~20 min read
Encyclopedic overview
ALMA image of HL Tauri, a protoplanetary disk In astrophysics, accretion is the accumulation of particles into a massive object by gravitationally attracting more matter, typically gaseous matter, into an accretion disk. Most astronomical objects, such as galaxies, stars, and planets, are formed by accretion processes.
Overview
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “accretion” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.