Editing Planetary differentiation (section)

{{Short description|Astrogeological concept}}
[[File:Earth-crust-cutaway-english.svg|thumb|The layers of the [[Earth]], a differentiated planetary body]]
In [[planetary science]], '''planetary differentiation''' is the process by which the chemical elements of a planetary body accumulate in different areas of that body, due to their physical or chemical behavior (e.g. density and chemical affinities). The process of planetary differentiation is mediated by [[partial melting]] with heat from radioactive isotope decay and [[Accretion (astrophysics)|planetary accretion]]. Planetary differentiation has occurred on planets, [[dwarf planet]]s, the asteroid [[4 Vesta]], and [[natural satellite]]s (such as the [[Moon]]).