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The Nebula Hypothesis is the most generally accepted evolutionary model for formation of the Solar System. According to this model the process starts with a rotating cloud of gas that contracts and flattens to form a disk of dust and gas around a forming star at center. Planets grow from the dust and gas in the disk and are left behind when disk clears.

The Nebula Hypothesis should always result in the same basic pattern, with the heated inner disk forming terrestrial planets and the cold outer disk forms gas giants.

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