This age is determined through various methods, primarily using:
* Radiometric dating: This technique analyzes the decay of radioactive isotopes found in meteorites and lunar samples.
* Dating of the oldest rocks on Earth and the Moon: These rocks provide a minimum age for the solar system.
* Computer models of planetary formation: These models simulate the conditions and processes that led to the formation of planets.
The age of 4.54 billion years is a well-established scientific consensus, supported by multiple lines of evidence.