What is the fundamental name for the flattened structure orbiting the protostar?
Answer
Protoplanetary disk
The process of gravitational collapse combined with rotation results in a distinct two-part structure. At the dense center resides the protostar. Surrounding this core is the flattened structure composed of residual gas and dust orbiting the center. This structure is formally known as the protoplanetary disk, though it is also referred to as an accretion disk. This disk contains all the raw material necessary for the subsequent formation of planets, moons, and asteroids orbiting the nascent star.
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