The image below, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2012, shows a formation known as a circumstellar nebula.

Question

Image courtesy of NASA

The image shows dust, distributed in a disk, orbiting around a central star. Some scientists believe that the process of planet formation could be occurring in this location. What statement best explains how scientists can use findings like these to better understand Earth’s Solar System?
A.
Scientists can better predict how life will form on other planets of Earth's Solar System.
B.
Scientists can better predict gravitational changes through which Earth's Solar System will undergo.
C.
Scientists can better explain the formation of Earth's Solar System only from data gathered from planetary probes.
D.
Scientists can better explain the formation of Earth's Solar System.

Answer 1

The best statement that explains how scientists can use findings like those from the Hubble Space Telescope's image of a circumstellar nebula to better understand Earth's Solar System is:

D. Scientists can better explain the formation of Earth's Solar System.

This is because studying circumstellar nebulae provides insights into the processes of dust and gas accumulation, which are key to understanding how solar systems, including our own, evolve and form planets.