Space-based Observations of Organic Chemistry in Astronomical Objects
- Paper number
IAC-08.A1.6.1
- Author
Dr. Steven Charnley, NASA Ames Reseach Center, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Comets, asteroids, meteorites, and interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) contributed significant amounts of extraterrestrial organic matter to our Solar System during its formation. This material degraded and reacted on catalytic surfaces to form organic structures that may have served as building blocks for life on the early Earth. In the last decade astronomical observations, modeling, laboratory simulation and analysis of extraterrestrial material have all contributed to the development of an inventory of organic matter in the interstellar medium (ISM), as well as on small bodies and planetary surfaces. This talk will review the major impact that data from space-based platforms has had on our understanding of these complex organic chemistries and their astrobiological perspective.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)