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Our solar system resembles a trail of tiny cosmic breadcrumbs: Trace the molecular fragments back to their origins, and you’ll discover insights into the formation of many planets and celestial entities. While exploring the foundations of our cosmic solar system, it’s likely you’ve encountered two astronomical terms: protoplanet and dwarf planet. A protoplanet is a celestial body that is still in the process of formation. In contrast, a dwarf planet is a completely formed planetary body that does not meet the criteria to be classified as a full planet, due to not satisfying one of three conditions established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Protoplanets and dwarf planets are remnants from the flourishing era of our solar system. There are even theories suggesting that Earth was formed as a result of collisions between several protoplanets. You might be curious as to how this works and what the fundamental differences between a protoplanet and a dwarf planet are. Let’s delve deeper into the vast expanse of the cosmos to uncover the details.