Chemical highlights from the Rosetta mission. Issue Volume 13:Issue S332(2017) (4th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Altwegg, Kathrin
• Editors: Cunningham, Maria; Millar, Tom; Aikawa, Yuri
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 13:Issue S332(2017)
• Page Start: 153
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2018-09-04
• Subjects: astrochemistry, -- comets: individual (67P/C-G), -- planetary systems: protoplanetary disks; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921317007852
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: The overall goal of the ESA Rosetta mission was to help decipher the origin and evolution of our solar system. Looking at the chemical composition of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is one way of doing this. The amount of very volatile species found and the insight into their isotopic abundances show that at least some presolar ice has survived the formation of the solar system. It shows that the solar nebula was not homogenized in the region where comets formed. The D/H ratio in water furthermore indicates that Jupiter family comets and Oort cloud comets probably formed in the same regions and their difference is then purely due to their different dynamical history. The organics found in 67P are very diverse, with abundant CH- and CHO- bearing species. Sulphur bearing species like S3 and S4 and others show evidence of dust grain chemistry in molecular clouds.