|
Alex our solar system formed 4.67 billion years ago from dust and gas. Our system has a third? generation star. By third I mean that the majority of material that is our solar system on average has been through three cycles of stellar birth and then to planetary nebulae and supernovae.
This age can be deduced from the isotopic ratios of very long lived radioactive isotopes in meteorites. These isotopes have a long half life and the ratios change in a known way from the time of their creation in a supernova.
If I stick to the correct Latin plurals blame the Christian Brothers who would strap me for getting my Latin plurals and declensions wrong.
Bert
Last edited by avandonk; 01-01-2010 at 01:56 PM.
|