Exploratour - Evolution of the Solar System

The Orion Nebula
Click on image for full size
NASA

Read more about Nebulae.

The Sun and planets began as just another molecular cloud in space, sort of like the one shown in this picture. Most likely the cloud was made primarily of hydrogen and helium gas, with some other molecules thrown in. Such a cloud is called a Nebula. "Nebulae" is a word that means more than one nebula. It is of such gas that new stars are made.

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