Earth's History

By David J
  • 1 CE

    Core formation

    The core is Earth's deepest layer. It is a ball of solid iron just larger than Pluto which is surrounded by a liquid outer core.
  • 3

    End of heavy bombardment 3.8 billion

    During this interval, a disproportionately large number of asteroids are theorized to have collided with the early terrestrial planets in the inner Solar System, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
  • 4

    Planetary accretion 4.3 billion

    The earth grew from the accumulation of planetismals (meteorites and asteroids) over a period of 1-200 million years
  • 4

    Planetary cooling

    By 4 billion years ago the earth had cooled enough for the outer layers to have solidified and for oceans to form.
  • 4

    Formation of the moon 4.5 billion

    Perhaps Earth's gravity snagged a passing body.