Formation of the Solar System: From Dust to Planets

Learn about the formation and dynamics of our solar system in this comprehensive lecture from the 2023 Astrobiology Introductory Course, delivered in English by planetologist Aurélien Crida. Explore fundamental concepts including planetary motion, zodiacal light, eclipses, and the outer planets Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Examine the asteroid belt's role in our cosmic neighborhood while diving into modern observations of solar system formation through infrared excess studies and ALMA telescope data. Investigate the crucial roles of gas disks, dust, and water in planetary system development, with specific attention to recent research findings from Winmark et al. Designed for PhD students and young scientists across astronomy, geology, chemistry, biology, and history/philosophy of sciences, gain interdisciplinary insights into astrobiology that connect to broader questions about life's origins, evolution, and cosmic distribution.