Timeline of the formation of the Universe

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Main article: Chronology of the universe
Diagram of Evolution of the universe from the Big Bang (left) - to the present.

This is a timeline of the formation and subsequent evolution of the Universe from the Big Bang 13.799 ± 0.021 billion years ago to the present day. Times are measured from the moment of the Big Bang.


The first second

Planck Epoch

  • ca. 0 seconds (13.799 ± 0.021 Gya): Planck Epoch begins: earliest meaningful time. The Big Bang occurs in which ordinary space and time develop out of a primeval state (possibly a virtual particle or false vacuum) described by a quantum theory of gravity or "Theory of Everything". All matter and energy of the entire visible Universe is contained in an unimaginably hot, dense point (Gravitational singularity), a billionth the size of a nuclear particle . This state has been described as a particle desert. Other than a few scant details conjecture dominates discussion about the earliest moments of the universe's history since no effective means of testing this far back in space-time is presently available. WIMPS (weakly interacting massive particles) or dark matter and dark energy may have appeared and been the catalyst for the expansion of the singularity. Infant Universe experiences cooling as it begins expanding outward - almost completely smooth, quantum variations begin causing slight variations in density
Grand Unification Epoch

Electroweak epoch

  • ca. 10−36 seconds: Electroweak epoch begins: The Universe cools down to 1028 Kelvin. As a result, the Strong Nuclear Force becomes distinct from the Electroweak Force perhaps fuelling the inflation (cosmology) of the universe. A wide array of exotic elementary particles result from decay of X and Y bosons which include W and Z bosons and Higgs bosons.
  • ca. 10−33 seconds: Space is subjected to a superfast inflation, influenced by a replusive energy field, expanding from the size of an atom to that of a grapefruit in a tiny fraction of a second. The inflation also generates two types of waves (gravitational and density) along which the previous quantum fluctuations inflate becoming structures that will influence future galaxy clustering. Some postulations suggest that this inflation may be eternal and may have been responsible for a multiverse which contains our own universe. At present concept has been subject to serious debate throughout present-day scientific community and is a matter of conjecture
  • ca. 10−32 seconds: Cosmic inflation ends. Particles of matter (quarks, gluons, electrons) form as a soup of hot ionized gas called quark-gluon plasma - photons of light (radiation) are scattered by travelling through this plasma. It is also possible that one potential type of dark matter (axions) is synthesized.

Quarks Epoch

  • ca. 10−12 seconds: Quark epoch begins. Electroweak phase transition: supersymmetry breaking as the Electromagnetic and Weak Nuclear forces become distinct. Cooling weakens the Weak nuclear force, so matter particles can acquire mass and interact with the Higgs Field. As fundamental interactions begin acting on the Universe, it remains too hot for quarks to bind together into larger forms of matter - domination of radiation over matter with quarks and gluons experiencing degrees of freedom. The universe cools to 1015 Kelvin.
  • ca. 10−11 seconds: Baryogenesis may have taken place with matter gaining the upper hand over anti-matter as baryon to antibaryon constituencies are established. A second potential type of dark matter (neutrinos) may have been synthesized.

Hadron Epoch

  • ca. 10−6 seconds: Hadron epoch begins: As the universe cools to about 1010 Kelvin, a quark-hadron transition takes place in which quarks bind to form more complex particles - hadrons. This quark confinement includes the formation of protons and neutrons (nucleons), the building blocks of atomic nuclei.
  • ca. 1 second: Lepton epoch begins: The universe cools to 109 Kelvin. At this temperature, the hadrons and antihadrons annihilate each other, leaving behind leptons and antileptons - possible disappearance of antiquarks. Gravity governs the expansion of the universe: neutrinos decouple from matter creating a cosmic neutrino background.

Matter Era

Photon Epoch

  • ca. 10 seconds: Photon epoch begins: Most of the leptons and antileptons annihilate each other. As electrons and positrons annihilate, a small number of unmatched electrons are left over - disappearance of the positrons.
  • ca. 10 seconds: Universe dominated by photons of radiation - ordinary matter particles are coupled to light and radiation while dark matter particles start building non-linear structures as dark matter halos. Because charged electrons and protons hinder the emission of light, the universe becomes a super-hot glowing fog.
  • ca. 3 minutes: Primordial Nucleosynthesis: nuclear fusion begins as lithium and heavy hydrogen (deuterium) and helium nuclei form from protons and neutrons.
  • ca. 20 minutes: Nuclear fusion ceases: normal matter consists of 75% hydrogen and 25% helium - free electrons begin scattering light.
  • ca. 70,000 yrs: Matter domination in Universe: onset of gravitational collapse as the Jeans Length at which the smallest structure can form begins to fall.

Cosmic Dark Age

All-sky map of the CMB, created from 9 years of WMAP data.

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Main article: List of cosmic microwave background experiments
  • ca. 370,000 yrs: Dark Ages (cosmology) begin - Recombination: electrons combine with nuclei to form atoms, mostly hydrogen and helium. The glow from our infant Universe is unveiled. Distributions of hydrogen and helium at this time remains constant as the electron-baryon plasma thins. The temperature falls to 3000 degrees Kelvin. Ordinary matter particles decouple from radiation. The photons fly free releasing a Cosmic Microwave Background. The universe becomes neutral and transparent. the Afterglow light pattern source taken by later satellites is the farthest back our instruments can see. The Cosmic Microwave Background is also the only light source: with no stars there is no other source of light. The Universe empty except for the neutral clouds of hydrogen and helium.
  • ca. 400,000 yrs: Density waves begin imprinting characteristic polarization (waves) signals.
  • ca. 10 million yrs: With a trace of heavy elements in the Universe, Abiogenesis (chemistry of life) begins operating.
  • ca. 100 million yrs: Gravitational collapse: ordinary matter particles fall into the structures created by dark matter. Reionization begins: smaller (stars) and larger non-linear structures (quasars) begin to take shape - their ultraviolet light ionizes remaining neutral gas
  • 200-300 million yrs: First stars begin to shine: Because many are Population III stars (some Population II stars are accounted for at this time) they are much bigger and hotter and their life-cycle is fairly short. Unlike later generations of stars, these stars are metal free. As reionization intensifies, photons of light scatter off free protons and electrons - Universe becomes opaque again
  • 200 million years: HD 140283, the "Methuselah" Star, formed, the unconfirmed oldest star observed in the Universe. Because it is a Population II star, some suggestions have been raised that second generation star formation may have begun very early on.[2] The oldest known star (confirmed) - SMSS J031300.36-670839.3, forms.
  • 300 million years First large-scale astronomical objects, protogalaxies and quasars may have begun forming. As Population III stars continue to burn, stellar nucleosynthesis operates - stars burn mainly by fusing hydrogen to produce more helium in what is referred to as the Main Sequence. Over time these stars are forced to fuse helium to produce carbon, oxygen, silicon and other heavy elements up to iron on the periodic table. These elements, when seeded into neighbouring gas clouds by supernova, will lead to the formation of more Population II stars (metal poor) and gas giants.
  • 380 million yrs: UDFj-39546284, current record holder for oldest known quasar.[3]
  • 420 million yrs: The quasar MACS0647-JD, forms
  • 470 - 500 million yrs: Abell 1835 IR1916 forms.

Renaissance

  • 600 million yrs: Renaissance of the Universe - end of the Dark Ages as visible light begins dominating throughout. Possible formation of the Milky Way Galaxy: although age of Methusaleh star suggests a much older date of origin, it is highly likely that HD 140283 may have come into our galaxy via a later galaxy merger. Oldest confirmed star in Milky Way Galaxy, HE 1523-0901. Extent of the Hubble Extreme Deep Field.
  • 630 million yrs: GRB 090423, the oldest gamma ray burst recorded suggests that supernovas may have happened very early on in the evolution of the Universe[4]
  • 670 million yrs: EGS-zs8-1, the most distant starburst or Lyman-break galaxy observed, forms. This suggests that galaxy interaction is taking place very early on in the history of the Universe as starburst galaxies are often associated with collisions and galaxy mergers.
  • 700 million yrs: Galaxies form. Smaller galaxies begin merging to form larger ones. Galaxy classes may have also begun forming at this time including Blazars, Seyfert galaxies, radio galaxies, normal galaxies (elliptical, Spiral galaxies, barred spiral) and dwarf galaxies. UDFy-38135539, the first distant quasar to be observed from the reionization phase, forms. Dwarf galaxy z8 GND 5296 forms. Galaxy or possible proto-galaxy A1689-zD1 forms.
  • 720 million yrs: Possible formation of globular clusters in Milky Way's Galactic halo. Formation of globular cluster, NGC 6723, in the Milky Way's galactic halo
  • 740 million years: 47 Tucanae, second brightest globular cluster in the Milky Way, forms
  • 750 million yrs: Galaxy IOK-1 a Lyman alpha emitter galaxy, forms. GN-108036 forms - galaxy is 5 times larger and 100 times more massive than the present day Milky Way illustrating the size attained by some galaxies very early on.
  • 770 million yrs: Quasar ULAS J1120+0641, one of the most distant, forms. One of the earliest galaxies to feature a supermassive black hole suggesting that such large objects existed quite soon after the Big Bang. The large fraction of neutral hydrogen in its spectrum suggests it may also have just formed or is in the process of star formation.
  • 800 million yrs: Farthest extent of Hubble Ultra Deep Field. Formation of SDSS J102915+172927: unusual population II star that is extremely metal poor consisting of mainly hydrogen and helium. HE0107-5240, one of the oldest Population II stars, forms as part of a binary star system. LAE J095950.99+021219.1, the Bogwiggit Galaxy, one of the most remote Lyman alpha emitter galaxies, forms. Lyman alpha emitters are considered to be the progenitors of spiral galaxies like the Milky Way. Messier 2, globular cluster, forms.
  • 870 million yrs: Messier 30 forms in the Milky Way. Having experienced a Core collapse (cluster), the cluster has one of the highest densities among globular clusters.
  • 890 million yrs: Galaxy SXDF-NB1006-2 forms
  • 900 million yrs: Galaxy BDF-3299 forms.
  • 910 million yrs: Galaxy BDF-521 forms

Galaxy Epoch

  • 1 billion yrs (12.8 Gya): Galaxy HCM-6A, the most distant normal galaxy observed, forms. Formation of hyper-luminous quasar SDSS J0100+2802 - It harbors a black hole with mass of 12 billion solar masses one of the most massive black hole discovered so early in the universe. HE1327-2326, population II star, speculated to have formed from remnants of earlier Population III stars. Visual limit of the Hubble Deep Field. Reionization complete - the Universe becomes transparent again. Galaxy evolution continues as more modern looking galaxies form and develop. Because the Universe is still small in size, galaxy interactions become common place with larger and larger galaxies forming out of the galaxy merger process. Galaxies may have begun clustering creating the largest structures in the Universe so far - the first galaxy clusters and galaxy superclusters appear.
  • 1.1 billion yrs (12.7 Gya): Age of the quasar CFHQS 1641+3755. Messier 4 Globular Cluster, first to have its individual stars resolved, forms in the halo of the Milky Way Galaxy. Among the clusters many stars, PSR B1620-26 b, a gas giant known as the "Genesis Planet" or "Methusaleh", orbiting a pulsar and a white dwarf, the oldest observed extrasolar planet in Universe, forms.
  • 1.13 billion yrs (12.67 Gya): Messier 12, globular cluster, forms
  • 1.3 billion yrs (12.5 Gya: WISE J224607.57-052635.0, a luminous infrared galaxy, forms. PSR J1719-1438 b, known as the Diamond Planet forms around a pulsar.
  • 1.31 billion yrs (12.49 Gya): Globular Cluster Messier 53 forms 60,000 light-years from the galactic centre of the Milky Way
  • 1.39 billion yrs (12.41 Gya): S5 0014+81, a hyper-luminous quasar, forms
  • 1.4 billion yrs (12.4 Gya): Age of Cayrel's Star, BPS C531082-0001, a neutron capture star, among the oldest Population II stars in Milky Way. Quasar RD1, first object observed to exceed redshift 5, forms.
  • 1.44 billion yrs (12.36 Gya): Messier 80 globular cluster forms in Milky Way - known for large number of "blue stragglers"
  • 1.5 billion yrs (12.3 Gya): Messier 55, globular cluster, forms
  • 1.8 billion yrs (12 Gya): Most energetic gamma ray burst lasting 23 minutes, GRB 080916C, recorded. Baby Boom Galaxy forms. Terzan 5 forms as a small dwarf galaxy on collision course with the Milky Way. Dwarf galaxy carrying the Methusaleh Star consumed by Milky Way - oldest known star in the Universe becomes one of many population II stars of the Milky Way
  • 2.0 billion yrs (11.8 Gya): SN 1000+0216, the oldest observed supernova occurs - possible pulsar formed. Globular Cluster Messier 15, known to have an intermediate black hole and the only globular cluster observed to include a planetary nebula, Pease 1, forms
  • 2.02 billion yrs (11.78 Gya): Messier 62 forms - contains high number of variable stars (89) many of which are RR Lyrae stars.
  • 2.2 billion yrs (11.6 Gya): Globular Cluster NGC 6752, third brightest, forms in Milky Way
  • 2.4 billion yrs (11.4 Gya): Quasar PKS 2000-330 forms.
  • 2.41 billion yrs (11.39 Gya): Messier 10 globular cluster forms. Messier 3 forms: prototype for the Oosterhoff type I cluster, which is considered "metal-rich". That is, for a globular cluster, Messier 3 has a relatively high abundance of heavier elements.
  • 2.5 billion yrs (11.3 Gya): Omega Centauri, largest globular cluster in the Milky Way forms
  • 3.0 billion yrs (10.8 billion Gya): Formation of Gliese 581 planetary system: Gliese 581 c, the first observed ocean planet and Gliese 581 d, a super-earth planet, possibly the first observed habitable planets, form. Gliese 581 d has more potential for forming life since it is the first exoplanet of terrestrial mass proposed that orbits within the habitable zone of its parent star.
  • 3.3 billion yrs (10.5 Gya): BX442, oldest grand design spiral galaxy observed, forms
  • 3.5 billion yrs (10.3 Gya): Supernova SN UDS10Wil recorded
  • 3.8 billion yrs (10 Gya): NGC 2808 globular cluster forms: 3 generations of stars form within the first 200 million years. Mu Cephei, giant red star forms
  • 4.0 billion yrs (9.8 Gya): Quasar 3C 9 forms. The Andromeda galaxy forms from a galactic merger - begins a collision course with the Milky Way. Barnard's Star, red dwarf star, may have formed. Beethoven Burst GRB 991216 recorded. Gliese 677 Cc, a planet in the habitable zone of its parent star, Gliese 667, one of the most physically similar known exoplanets to Earth, forms
  • 4.1 billion yrs (9.7 Gya): 16 Cygni Bb, the first gas giant observed in a single star orbit in a trinary star system, forms - orbiting moons considered to have habitable properties or at the least capable of supporting water
  • 4.5 billion yrs (9.3 Gya): Fierce star formation in Andromeda making it into a luminous infra-red galaxy
  • 5.0 billion yrs (8.8 Gya): Earliest Population I, or Sunlike stars: with heavy element saturation so high, planetary nebula appear in which rocky substances are solidified - these nurseries lead to the formation of rocky terrestrial planets, moons, asteroids, and icy comets
  • 5.1 billion yrs (8.7 Gya): Galaxy collision: spiral arms of the Milky Way form leading to major period of star formation.
  • 5.3 billion yrs (8.5 Gya): 55 Cancri B, a "hot Jupiter", first planet to be observed orbiting as part of a star system, forms. Kepler 11 planetary system, the flattest and most compact system yet discovered, forms - Kepler 11 c considered to be a giant ocean planet with hydrogen-helium atmosphere.
  • 5.8 billion yrs (8 Gya): 51 Pegasi b also known as Bellerophon, forms - first planet discovered orbiting a main sequence star
  • 5.9 billion yrs (7.9 Gya): HD 176051 planetary system, known as the first observed through astrometrics, forms

Acceleration

  • 6.0 billion yrs (7.8 Gya): Acceleration: dark energy begins dominating Universe - after being slowed for billions of years by gravity abundant dark matter takes hold and the cosmic expansion begins to speed up. As the cosmic expansion accelerates, the rate of galaxy interactions decreases - although near misses continue to distort some while collisions increase the size of others, distance makes the galaxy merger process less likely. Many galaxies like NGC 4565 become relatively stable - ellipticals result from collisions of spirals with some like IC 1101 being extremely massive. Rigel or Beta Orionis, an alpha cygni variable, forms.
  • 6.0 billion years-present (7.8 Gya-present): The Universe continues to organize into larger wider structures. The great walls, sheets and filaments consisting of galaxy clusters and superclusters and voids crystallize. How this crystallization takes place is still conjecture. Certainly, it is possible the formation of super-structures like the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall may have happened much earlier, perhaps around the same time galaxies first started appearing. Either way the observable universe becomes more modern looking.
  • 6.3 billion yrs (7.5 Gya): GRB 080319B, farthest gamma ray burst seen with the naked eye, recorded. Terzan 7, metal-rich globular cluster, forms in the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy
  • 6.5 billion yrs (7.3 Gya): HD 10180 planetary system forms (larger than both 55 Cancri and Kepler 11 systems)
  • 6.9 billion yrs (6.9 Gya): Orange Giant, Arcturus, forms
  • 7 billion yrs (6.8 Gya): North Star, Polaris, one of the significant navigable stars, forms
  • 7.64 billion yrs (6.16 Gya): Mu Arae planetary system forms: of four planets orbiting a yellow star, Mu Arae c is among the first terrestrial planets to be observed from Earth
  • 7.8 billion yrs (6 Gya): Formation of Earth's near twin, Kepler 452b orbiting its parent star Kepler 452
  • 7.98 billion yrs (5.82 Gya): Formation of Mira or Omicron ceti, binary star system. Formation of Alpha Centauri Star System, closest star to the Sun - formation of Alpha Centauri Bb closest planet to the Sun. GJ 1214 b, or Gliese 1214 b, potential earth-like planet, forms
  • 8.08-8.58 billion yrs (5.718-5.218 Gya): Capella star system forms
  • 8.2 billion yrs (5.6 Gya): Tau Ceti, nearby yellow star forms: five planets eventually evolve from its planetary nebula, orbiting the star - Tau Ceti e considered planet to have potential life since it orbits the hot inner edge of the star's habitable zone
  • 8.5 billion yrs (5.3 Gya): GRB 101225A, the "Christmas Burst", considered the longest at 28 minutes, recorded
  • 8.8 billion yrs (5 Gya): Messier 67 open star cluster forms: Three exoplanets confirmed orbiting stars in the cluster including a twin of our Sun
  • 9.0 billion yrs (4.8 Gya): Lalande 21185, red dwarf in Ursa Major, forms
  • 9.13 billion yrs (4.67 Gya): Proxima Centauri forms completing the Alpha Centauri binary system

Solar Era

  • 9.2 billion yrs (4.6 Gya): Primal supernova, possibly triggers the formation of the Solar System.
  • 9.231 billion yrs (4.568 Gya): Sun forms - Planetary nebula begins accretion of planets.
  • 9.25 billion yrs (4.55 Gya): Solar System of Eight planets, four terrestrial (Mercury (planet), Venus, Earth, Mars) and four Jovian planets (Jupiter. Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) evolve around the Sun. Because of accretion many smaller planets form orbits around the proto-Sun some with conflicting orbits - Early Bombardment Phase begins. Pre-Noachian Era begins on Mars. Pre-Tolstojan Period begins on Mercury - Large planetoid strikes Mercury stripping it of outer envelope of original crust and mantle, leaving the planet's core exposed - Mercury's iron content notably high. Vega, fifth brightest star in our galactic neighbourhood, forms. Many of the Galilean moons may have formed at this time including Europa and Titan which may presently be hospitable to some form of living organism.
  • 9.254 billion yrs (4.545 Gya): Major collision with a planetoid establishes the Martian dichotomy on Mars - formation of North Polar Basin (Mars)
  • 9.266 billion yrs (4.533 Gya): Formation of Earth-Moon system following giant impact by hypothetical planetoid Thea (planet). Moon's gravitational pull helps stabilize Earth's fluctuating axis of rotation. Pre-Nectarian Period begins on Moon
  • 9.3 billion yrs (4.5 Gya): Sun becomes a main sequence yellow star: formation of the Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt from which a stream of comets like Halley's Comet and Hale-Bopp begins passing through the Solar System, sometimes colliding with planets and the Sun
  • 9.4 billion yrs (4.4 Gya): Formation of Kepler 438 b, one of the most Earth-like planets, from a protoplanetary nebula surrounding its parent star
  • 9.5 billion yrs (4.3 Gya): Massive meteorite impact creates South Pole Aitken Basin on the Moon - a huge chain of mountains located on the lunar southern limb, sometimes called "Leibnitz mountains", form
  • 9.6 billion yrs (4.2 Gya): Tharsis Bulge widespread area of vulcanism, becomes active on Mars - based on the intensity of volcanic activity on Earth, Tharsis magmas may have produced a 1.5-bar CO2 atmosphere and a global layer of water 120 m deep increasing greenhouse gas effect in climate and adding to Martian water table. Age of the oldest samples from the Lunar Maria
  • 9.7 billion yrs (4.1 Gya): Resonance in Jupiter and Saturn's orbits moves Neptune out into the Kuiper belt causing a disruption among asteroids and comets there. As a result, Late Heavy Bombardment batters the inner Solar System. Herschel Crater formed on Mimas (moon), a moon of Saturn. Meteorite impact creates the Hellas Planitia on Mars, the largest unambiguous structure on the planet. Anseris Mons an isolated massif (mountain) in the southern highlands of Mars, located at the northeastern edge of Hellas Planitia is uplifted in the wake of the meteorite impact
  • 9.8 billion yrs (4 Gya): HD 209458 b, first planet detected through its transit, forms. Messier 85, lenticular galaxy, disrupted by galaxy interaction: complex outer structure of shells and ripples results. Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies experience close encounter - high levels of star formation in Andromeda while Triangulum's outer disc is distorted
  • 9.861 billion yrs (3.938 Gya): Major period of impacts on the Moon: Mare Imbrium forms
  • 9.88 billion yrs (3.92 Gya): Nectaris Basin forms from large impact event: ejecta from Nectaris forms upper part of densely cratered Lunar Highlands - Nectarian Era begins on the Moon.
  • 9.9 billion yrs (3.9 Gya): Tolstoj (crater) forms on Mercury. Caloris Basin forms on Mercury leading to creation of "Weird Terraine" - seismic activity triggers volcanic activity globally on Mercury. Rembrandt (crater) formed on Mercury. Caloris Period begins on Mercury. Argyre Planitia forms from asteroid impac t on Mars: surrounded by rugged massifs which form concentric and radial patterns around basin - several mountain ranges including Charitum and Nereidum Montes are uplifted in its wake
  • 9.95 billion yrs (3.85 Gya): Beginning of Late Imbrium Period on Moon. Earliest appearance of Procellarum KREEP Mg suite materials
  • 9.96 billion yrs (3.84 Gya): Formation of Orientale Basin from asteroid impact on Lunar surface - collision causes ripples in crust, resulting in three concentric circular features known as Montes Rook and Montes Cordillera

Biological Era

  • 10 billion years (3.8 Gya): In the wake of Late Heavy Bombardment impacts on the Moon, large molten mare depressions dominate lunar surface - major period of Lunar vulcanism begins (to 3 Gyr)
  • 10.2 billion years (3.6 Gya): Alba Mons forms on Mars, largest volcano in terms of area
  • 10.6 billion years (3.2 Gya): Amazonian (Mars) Period begins on Mars: Martian climate thins to its present density: groundwater stored in upper crust (megaregolith) begins to freeze, forming thick cryosphere overlying deeper zone of liquid water - dry ices composed of frozen carbon dioxide form Eratosthenian period begins on the Moon: main geologic force on the Moon becomes impact cratering
  • 10.8 billion years (3 Gya): Beethoven Basin forms on Mercury - unlike many basins of similar size on the Moon, Beethoven is not multi ringed and ejecta buries crater rim and is barely visible
  • 11.6 billion yrs (2.2 Gya): Last great tectonic period in Martian geologic history: Valles Marineris, largest canyon complex in the Solar System, forms - although some suggestions of thermokarst activity or even water erosion, it is suggested Valles Marineris is rift fault
  • 11.8 billion yrs (2 Gya): Star formation in Andromdea Galaxy slows. Formation of Hoag's Object from a galaxy collision. Olympus Mons largest volcano in the Solar System forms
  • 12.1 billion yrs (1.7 Gya): Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy captured into an orbit around Milky Way Galaxy
  • 12.7 billion yrs (1.1 Gya): Copernican Period begins on Moon: defined by impact craters that possess bright optically immature ray systems
  • 12.8 billion yrs (1 Gya): Kuiperian Era (1 Gyr - ) begins on Mercury: modern Mercury, desolate cold planet influenced by space erosion and solar wind extremes. Interactions between Andromeda and its companion galaxies Messier 32 and Messier 110. Galaxy collision with Messier 82 forms its spiral patterned disc: galaxy interactions between NGC 3077 and Messier 81
  • 13 billion yrs (800 Mya): Copernicus (lunar crater) forms from impact on Lunar surface in the area of Oceanus Procellarum - has terrace inner wall and 30 km wide, sloping rampart that descends nearly a kilometer to the surrounding mare
  • 13.0-13.4 billion yrs (0.8-0.4 Gya): Epsilon Eridani, third closest star to the Sun forms - From its planetary nebula Epsilon eridani b (gas giant) forms
  • 13.175 billion yrs (625 Mya): formation of Hyades star cluster: consists of a roughly spherical group of hundreds of stars sharing same age, place of origin, chemical content and motion through space
  • 13.2 billion yrs (600 Mya): Collision of spiral galaxies leads to creation of Antenna Galaxies. Whirlpool Galaxy collides with NGC 5195 forming present connected galaxy system. HD 189733 b forms around parent star HD 189733: first planet to reveal climate, organic constituencies, even colour (blue) of its atmosphere
  • 13.5-13.6 billion yrs (200-300 Mya): Sirius, the brightest star in the Earth's sky, forms.
  • 13.787 billion yrs (12 Mya): Antares forms.
  • 13.791 billion yrs (7.6 Mya): Betelgeuse forms.
  • 13.795 billion yrs (4.4 Mya): Fomalhaut b, first directly imaged planet, forms
  • 13.799 billion yrs: Present day.

See also

References

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