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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

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 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

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