Talk:Protoplanet

Astronomy: Astronomical objects / Solar System Mid‑importance

	Astronomy portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Astronomy, which collaborates on articles related to Astronomy on Wikipedia.AstronomyWikipedia:WikiProject AstronomyTemplate:WikiProject AstronomyAstronomy articles
Mid	This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale.
	This article is supported by WikiProject Astronomical objects, which collaborates on articles related to astronomical objects.
	This article is supported by Solar System task force (assessed as Mid-importance).

dwarf planets?

Are protoplanets also dwarf planets? 198.151.130.31 (talk) 03:40, 10 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

It would seem so. Internal differentiation would imply hydrostatic equilibrium. But the context is different: formation of the Solar system vs. current geology.

Hm, I take that back. You could perhaps have partial differention without full equilibrium. Also, what about a case like Vesta, which was (presumably) once in equilibrium, but no longer is? It's a protoplanet, but is it a DP? — kwami (talk) 00:27, 11 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Going out on a limb, I would say all dwarf planets are proto-planets, but not all proto-planets are dwarf planets?! -- Kheider (talk) 00:33, 11 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Do we even know enough to say? The current definition of pp's would probably make them all dp's, but the current definition does not include Ceres. — kwami (talk) 00:47, 11 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Vesta and Pallas are proto-planets, but not accepted as dwarf planets. I will be very curious to see what we learn of Vesta's interior and crust. -- Kheider (talk) 02:17, 11 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Definition

The definition of a 'protoplanet' gives a size and mass range much larger than the Main-Belt protoplanets given as examples. — kwami (talk) 22:14, 10 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Planetary embryo

Planetary embryo redirects here. According to this report, Mars is a planetary embryo. Should it be mentioned here? 65.94.44.141 (talk) 06:47, 30 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, it should. What is a protoplanet might be in flux, but somebody said that "Mars is different, it is a protoplanet". Or maybe an "oligarch". Rursus dixit. (^mbork³!) 23:16, 5 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Space.Com: Mars Formed Fast in Massive Early Growth Spurt says

These findings suggest that Mars was a protoplanet that escaped merging with its siblings.

and still is, of course. Rursus dixit. (^mbork³!) 15:29, 6 August 2011 (UTC)[reply]

asteroids

With so much Fe-Ni on the surface, it seems pretty likely that 9 Metis is also the core of a disrupted protoplanet like 16 Psyche. Its article at least appears to say so. Double sharp (talk) 23:55, 11 July 2017 (UTC)[reply]

OK, added Metis (sourced). Double sharp (talk) 23:59, 11 July 2017 (UTC)[reply]