The origin of the planetesimal theory.
T. C. Chamberlin suggested in 1897, on the basis of geological and climatological arguments, that the planets were formed by accretion of cold solid partices. With F. R. Moulton he developed convincing arguments against the Laplace nebular hypothesis and published a comprehensive 'planetesimal theory' of the origin of the solar system in 1905. The Chamberlin-Moulton theory has current as well as historical interest.
D001256:Astronomy / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D014481:United States