Formation Of The Solar System Research Articles

Dating the Solar System's giant planet orbital instability using enstatite meteorites.

The giant planets of the Solar System formed on initially compact orbits, which transitioned to the current wider configuration by means of an orbital instability. The timing of that instability is poorly constrained. In this work, we use dynamical simulations to demonstrate that the instability implanted planetesimal fragments from the terrestrial planet region into the asteroid main belt. We use meteorite data to show that the implantation occurred >60 million years (Myr) after the Solar System began to form. Combining this constraint with a previous upper limit derived from Jupiter's trojan asteroids, we conclude that the orbital instability occurred 60 to 100 Myr after the beginning of Solar System formation. The giant impact that formed the Moon occurred within this range, so it might be related to the giant planet instability.

Near-earth asteroids classification using NGBoost classifier

Near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) are celestial bodies that orbit within close to Earth, offering valuable insights into the early solar system's formation and posing potential hazards due to impact events. This work presents a comprehensive overview of NEAs, encompassing their historical significance, characteristics, impact hazards, and prospects. The study outlines the NASA Asteroids Classification Dataset and discusses its importance for research on asteroid classification and risk assessment. Furthermore, the methodology section delineates the utilization of the NGBoost classifier for predictive modeling tasks, detailing data collection, preprocessing, model training, evaluation, and result interpretation. Results from the NGBoost classifier demonstrate high accuracy and performance metrics in classifying asteroids, underscoring its efficacy in advancing asteroid classification efforts and informing planetary defense strategies. NEAs pose a potential threat to our planet, and their classification is essential for understanding their properties and predicting their trajectories accurately. In this research, we explore the application of NGBoost, a powerful gradient-boosting framework, for classifying NEAs based on their orbital and physical characteristics. We present a dataset comprising features extracted from known NEAs and non-NEAs and demonstrate the efficacy of NGBoost in accurately distinguishing between these classes. Our results indicate promising performance metrics with 99.22% accuracy, suggesting that NGBoost holds potential as a valuable tool in asteroid classification.

Silicate Mineralogy from Vis–NIR Reflectance Spectra

The asteroid composition is the key to understanding the origin and evolution of the solar system. The composition is imprinted at specific wavelengths of the asteroid reflectance spectra. We wish to find the optimal wavelength range and step of reflectance spectra that contain sufficient information about S-complex asteroids while keeping the data volume as low as possible. We especially aim for the ASPECT instrument on board the Milani/Hera CubeSat that will observe the S-complex binary asteroid (65803) Didymos–Dimorphos. We use labeled reflectance spectra of the most common silicate found in meteorites, namely olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and their mixtures. The spectra are interpolated to various wavelength grids. We use convolutional neural networks and train them with the labeled interpolated reflectance spectra. The reliability of the network outputs is evaluated using standard regression metrics. We do not find any significant dependence between the error of the model predictions and normalization position, fineness of coverage within the 1 μm band, and wavelength step up to 50 nm. High-precision predictions of the olivine and orthopyroxene modal abundances are obtained using spectra that cover wavelengths from 750 to 1050 nm and from 750 to 1250 nm, respectively. For high-precision predictions of the olivine chemical composition, the spectra should cover wavelengths from 750 to 1550 nm. The orthopyroxene chemical composition can be estimated from spectra that cover wavelengths from 750 to 1350 nm. We design a simple web interface through which everybody can use the pretrained models.

Nanoscale Spectroscopic Identification and Characterization of Minerals and Organic Matter in Ryugu Particles

AbstractCarbonaceous asteroids are leftover materials from the early solar system. They did not undergo planetary differentiation processes and thus still retained signatures and clues of the origin and evolution of the solar system. Thus, samples of carbonaceous asteroids provide significant potential for deciphering the origin of the solar system. The Hayabusa2 spacecraft returned the first samples of a carbonaceous asteroid (162173) Ryugu. In this work, we report the nanoscale mineralogy and organic matter content of two Ryugu particles, A0030 and C0034. These were analyzed by highly novel scattering‐type scanning near‐field optical microscopy (s‐SNOM)‐based nanoscale‐Fourier transform infrared (nano‐FTIR) spectroscopy with ∼20 nm spatial resolution. The nano‐FTIR measurements were supported by confocal micro‐Raman imaging and spectroscopy (∼500 nm/pixel spatial sampling). Our investigations show that the two Ryugu particles (a) contain different silicate mineralogies, indicating heterogeneous and incomplete aqueous alteration and (b) are highly rich in organic matter, consisting a variety of molecular functional groups. The spatial distributions of chemical functional groups and their associations based on pseudo‐heterodyne (PsHet) SNOM imaging show that the organic matter is distributed as either diffused or discrete grains. Micro‐Raman spectra show that the Ryugu particles experienced minimal thermal metamorphism, although A0030 was slightly more heated than C0034. The identification of abundant nanoscale organic molecules within the Ryugu grains that could not be identified via micrometer‐scale investigations emphasizes the importance of using nanoscale nondestructive methods for studying primitive solar system materials, such as Ryugu and OSIRIS‐Rex particles and those that will be returned in the future (such as MMX samples).

JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy of the Lucy Jupiter Trojan Flyby Targets: Evidence for OH Absorption, Aliphatic Organics, and CO2

We present observations obtained with the Near Infrared Spectrograph on JWST of the five Jupiter Trojans that will be visited by the Lucy spacecraft—the Patroclus–Menoetius binary, Eurybates, Orus, Leucus, and Polymele. The measured 1.7–5.3 μm reflectance spectra, which provide increased wavelength coverage, spatial resolution, and signal-to-noise ratio over previous ground-based spectroscopy, reveal several distinct absorption features. We detect a broad OH band centered at 3 μm that is most prominent on the less-red objects Eurybates, Patroclus–Menoetius, and Polymele. An additional absorption feature at 3.3–3.6 μm, indicative of aliphatic organics, is systematically deeper on the red objects Orus and Leucus. The collisional fragment Eurybates is unique in displaying an absorption band at 4.25 μm that we attribute to bound or trapped CO2. Comparisons with other solar system small bodies reveal broad similarities in the 2.7–3.6 μm bands with analogous features on Centaurs, Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs), and the active asteroid 238P. In the context of recent solar system evolution models, which posit that the Trojans initially formed in the outer solar system, the significant attenuation of the 2.7–3.6 μm absorption features on Trojans relative to KBOs may be the result of secondary thermal processing of the Trojans’ surfaces at the higher temperatures of the Jupiter region. The CO2 band manifested on the surface of Eurybates suggests that CO2 may be a major constituent in the bulk composition of Trojans, but resides in the subsurface or deeper interior and is largely obscured by refractory material that formed from the thermophysical processes that were activated during their inward migration.

Sublimation of volatiles from H2O:CO2 bulk ices in the context ofcomet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. I. N2 and CO

Comets are considered to be remnants from the formation of the Solar System. ESA's Rosetta mission targeted comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and was able to record high-quality data on its chemical composition and outgassing behaviour, including low abundances of N$_ $ that are observed to be correlated with H$_ $O and CO$_ $ in approximately a 63:37 ratio. In this work, the thermal desorption behaviour of N$_2$ in H$_2$O:CO$_2$ ices was studied in the laboratory to investigate the co-desorption behaviour of N$_2$ within the two most abundant cometary ices in 67P and to derive desorbing fractions in different temperature regimes. H$_2$O:CO$_2$:N$_2$ ices of various ratios were prepared in a gas mixing system and co-deposited at 15 K onto a copper sample holder. Sublimation of the ice was measured using temperature programmed desorption mass spectrometry. Quantitative values were derived for the fraction of N$_2$ co-desorbing with CO$_2$ and H$_2$O respectively. To validate the results, H$_2$O:CO$_2$:13CO ices were prepared as well. The experiments show that the co-desorption of N$_2$ with CO$_2$ in H$_2$O:CO$_2$:N$_2$ ices depends on the bulk amount of CO$_2$ present in the ice. The fraction of N$_ $ trapped in H$_ $O reduces as more N$_ $ and CO$_ $ are added to the mixture. CO behaves qualitatively similar to N$_ $, but more CO is found to co-desorb with CO$_ $. To reproduce the ratio of N$_ $ desorbing with H$_ $O over that of CO$_ $ (N$_ $(H$_ $O)/N$_ $(CO$_ $)), our ice analogues need to contain geq 15<!PCT!> CO$_ $, while 67P contains leq 7.5<!PCT!> CO$_ $. Large fractions of N$_ $ can be removed from the ice due to heating up to 70 K, but for ice that most closely resembles that of 67P, the loss fraction of pure phase N$_2$ is expected to be leq 20<!PCT!>. Therefore, N$_2$ is suggested to be a minor carrier of nitrogen in the comet.

In Situ Helium Isotope Microimaging of Meteorites.

Isotope imaging is commonly used to investigate the localization of trace elements and their isotopes. In situ noble gas analysis of meteorites revealed the distribution of primordial noble gases that were trapped in the building blocks of asteroids and planets during the early stage of the solar system evolution. Solar wind noble gases are among the primordial gases present in meteorites and were trapped through exposure to solar wind. Micrometer-resolution in situ noble gas analysis has not been achieved due to the lack of sensitivity and spatial resolution. The microscale imaging technique is crucial for identifying the carrier phase of the solar wind noble gases. We have developed 4He isotope imaging utilizing secondary neutral mass spectrometry with strong field postionization. This technique achieved a lateral resolution of 2 μm and a 4He detection limit of 2 × 1017 cm-3. This development allows for the study of a solar wind gas-rich meteorite, Northwest Africa 801 carbonaceous chondrite, with micrometer resolution. The solar wind 4He carriers are fine-grained particles and are sparsely scattered in the matrix region.

Isotopic evolution of the inner solar system revealed by size-dependent oxygen isotopic variations in chondrules

The systematic isotopic difference between refractory inclusions and chondrules, particularly for oxygen, has long indicated an isotopic evolution of the solar protoplanetary disk. However, it remains underconstrained whether such evolution continued during chondrule formation. Intrigued by past reports of the size-dependent oxygen isotopic compositions of chondrules in ordinary chondrites (OC), we analyzed type I olivine-rich chondrules of various sizes in two LL3 chondrites. Although most chondrules show positive Δ17O values comparable to bulk ordinary chondrites, a population of smaller (less than about 0.1 mm2 in cross-section), including many isolated olivine grains (sensu lato), are 16O-enriched (with Δ17O values down to −13.2 ‰). Literature data allow the same observation for R chondrites. All sub-TFL type I chondrules (i.e., Δ17O < 0) chondrules have Mg# > 97 mol% while the supra-TFL type I chondrule olivines extend to the formal boundary with type II chondrules (i.e., Mg# = 90 mol%). The sub-TFL chondrules are likely genetically related to isotopically similar aluminum-rich chondrules described in the literature. They therefore must have formed earlier than most OC and R chondrules when the inner disk was still sub-TFL. This interpretation is supported by the presence of similarly 16O-rich relict grains in supra-TFL OC and R chondrules that must be remains of this incompletely recycled precursor material. The non-carbonaceous reservoir was thus still evolving isotopically towards 16O-poorer composition when chondrule formation began, whether by mixing with outer disk material, late accretion streamers and/or an increase in the solid/gas ratio due to magnetothermal disk winds.

Crash Chronicles: Relative contribution from comets and carbonaceous asteroids to Earth’s volatile budget in the context of an Early Instability

Recent models of solar system formation suggest that a dynamical instability among the giant planets happened within the first 100 Myr after disk dispersal, perhaps before the Moon-forming impact. As a direct consequence, a bombardment of volatile-rich impactors may have taken place on Earth before internal and atmospheric reservoirs were decoupled. However, such a timing has been interpreted to potentially be at odds with the disparate inventories of Xe isotopes in Earth’s mantle compared to its atmosphere. This study aims to assess the dynamical effects of an Early Instability on the delivery of carbonaceous asteroids and comets to Earth, and address the implications for the Earth’s volatile budget. We perform 20 high-resolution dynamical simulations of solar system formation from the time of gas disk dispersal, each starting with 1600 carbonaceous asteroids and 10000 comets, taking into account the dynamical perturbations from an early giant planet instability. Before the Moon-forming impact, the cumulative collision rate of comets with Earth is about 4 orders of magnitude lower than that of carbonaceous asteroids. After the Moon-forming impact, this ratio either decreases or increases, often by orders of magnitude, depending on the dynamics of individual simulations. An increase in the relative contribution of comets happens in 30% of our simulations. In these cases, the delivery of noble gases from each source is comparable, given that the abundance of 132Xe is 3 orders of magnitude greater in comets than in carbonaceous chondrites. The increase in cometary flux relative to carbonaceous asteroids at late times may thus offer an explanation for the Xe signature dichotomy between the Earth’s mantle and atmosphere. Our current model falls short in simultaneously reproducing a 4%–10% carbonaceous contribution to Earth and late accretion dominated by non-carbonaceous material. In future work, it is worth exploring the possibility that a large fraction of Earth’s carbonaceous material was accreted prior to gas disk dispersal. If that were the case, it would strengthen our dynamical explanation for the Xe signature dichotomy, because the contribution of cometary relative to carbonaceous material would strongly increase at later times.

Bayesian Estimation of Past Astronomical Frequencies, Lunar Distance, and Length of Day From Sediment Cycles

AbstractAstronomical cycles recorded in stratigraphic sequences offer a powerful data source to estimate Earth's axial precession frequency k, as well as the frequency of rotation of the planetary perihelia (gi) and of the ascending nodes of their orbital planes (si). Together, these frequencies control the insolation cycles (eccentricity, obliquity and climatic precession) that affect climate and sedimentation, providing a geologic record of ancient Solar system behavior spanning billions of years. Here, we introduce two Bayesian methods that harness stratigraphic data to quantitatively estimate ancient astronomical frequencies and their uncertainties. The first method (TimeOptB) calculates the posterior probability density function (PDF) of the axial precession frequency k and of the sedimentation rate u for a given cyclostratigraphic data set, while setting the Solar system frequencies gi and si to fixed values. The second method (TimeOptBMCMC) applies an adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to efficiently sample the posterior PDF of all the parameters that affect astronomical cycles recorded in stratigraphy: five gi, five si, k, and u. We also include an approach to assess the significance of detecting astronomical cycles in cyclostratigraphic records. The methods provide an extension of current approaches that is computationally efficient and well suited to recover the history of astronomical cycles, Earth‐Moon history, and the evolution of the Solar system from geological records. As case studies, data from the Xiamaling Formation (N. China, 1.4 Ga) and ODP Site 1262 (S. Atlantic, 55 Ma) are evaluated, providing updated estimates of astronomical frequencies, Earth‐Moon history, and secular resonance terms.

Hubble Asteroid Hunter

Context. Determining the size distribution of asteroids is key to understanding the collisional history and evolution of the inner Solar System. Aims. We aim to improve our knowledge of the size distribution of small asteroids in the main belt by determining the parallaxes of newly detected asteroids in the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) archive and subsequently their absolute magnitudes and sizes. Methods. Asteroids appear as curved trails in HST images because of the parallax induced by the fast orbital motion of the spacecraft. Taking into account the trajectory of this latter, the parallax effect can be computed to obtain the distance to the asteroids by fitting simulated trajectories to the observed trails. Using distance, we can obtain the absolute magnitude of an object and an estimation of its size assuming an albedo value, along with some boundaries for its orbital parameters. Results. In this work, we analyse a set of 632 serendipitously imaged asteroids found in the ESA HST archive. Images were captured with the ACS/WFC and WFC3/UVIS instruments. A machine learning algorithm (trained with the results of a citizen science project) was used to detect objects in these images as part of a previous study. Our raw data consist of 1031 asteroid trails from unknown objects, not matching any entries in the Minor Planet Center (MPC) database using their coordinates and imaging time. We also found 670 trails from known objects (objects featuring matching entries in the MPC). After an accuracy assessment and filtering process, our analysed HST asteroid set consists of 454 unknown objects and 178 known objects. We obtain a sample dominated by potential main belt objects featuring absolute magnitudes (H) mostly between 15 and 22 mag. The absolute magnitude cumulative distribution log N(H &gt; H0) ∝ α log(H0) confirms the previously reported slope change for 15 &lt; H &lt; 18, from α ≈ 0.56 to α ≈ 0.26, maintained in our case down to absolute magnitudes of around H ≈ 20, and therefore expanding the previous result by approximately two magnitudes. Conclusions. HST archival observations can be used as an asteroid survey because the telescope pointings are statistically randomly oriented in the sky and cover long periods of time. They allow us to expand the current best samples of astronomical objects at no extra cost in regard to telescope time.

Parent Volatile Outgassing Associations in Cometary Nuclei: Synthesizing Rosetta Measurements and Ground-based Observations

Comets, as remnants of the solar system’s formation, vary in volatile-refractory content. In situ comet studies, such as the Rosetta mission to 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, provide detailed volatile composition insights, while ground-based studies offer broader comet samples but in fewer species. Comparing 67P’s volatile correlations during the 2 yr Rosetta mission with those from remote sensing gives insights into volatile distribution in the nucleus and factors influencing their release. Our goal is to identify associations between volatiles seen from the ground and those in 67P. Given 67P’s seasonal variations, we segmented the Rosetta mission around 67P into six epochs, reflecting different insolation conditions. It has been suggested that there are at least two different ice matrices, H2O and CO2 ice, in which the minor species are embedded in different relative abundances within them. We employed various methodologies to establish associations among volatiles, such as volatile production rates, spatial distributions, patterns in mixing ratio, and local outgassing source locations. We note that different techniques of grouping molecules with respect to H2O and CO2 may yield different results. Earth’s atmosphere blocks CO2; however, due to observed differences between H2O and C2H6 from the ground and between H2O and CO2 from comet missions, C2H6 is suggested to be a CO2 proxy. Our study delves into cometary coma molecular correlations, highlighting their associations with H2O and CO2 matrices and advancing our understanding of the early solar system comet formation and evolution.

Dynamics of 2023 FW14, the second L4 Mars trojan, and a physical characterization using the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias

Context. Known Mars trojans could be primordial small bodies that have remained in their present-day orbits for the age of the Solar System. Their orbital distribution is strongly asymmetric; there are over a dozen objects at the L5 point and just one at L4, (121514) 1999 UJ7. Most L5 trojans appear to form a collision-induced asteroid cluster, known as the Eureka family. Asteroid 2023 FW14 was recently discovered and it has a robust orbit determination that may be consistent with a Mars trojan status. Aims. Our aim is determine the nature and dynamical properties of 2023 FW14. Methods. We carried out an observational study of 2023 FW14 to derive its spectral class using the OSIRIS camera spectrograph at the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias. We investigated its possible trojan resonance with Mars using direct N-body simulations. Results. The reflectance spectrum of 2023 FW14 is not compatible with the olivine-rich composition of the Eureka family; it also does not resemble the composition of the Moon, although (101429) 1998 VF31 does. The Eureka family and 101429 are at the L5 point. The spectrum of 2023 FW14 is also different from two out of the three spectra in the literature of the other known L4 trojan, 121514, which are of C-type. The visible spectrum of 2023 FW14 is consistent with that of an X-type asteroid, as is the third spectrum of 121514. Our calculations confirm that 2023 FW14 is the second known L4 Mars trojan although it is unlikely to be primordial; it may remain in its present-day “tadpole” path for several million years before transferring to a Mars-crossing orbit. It might be a fragment of 121514, but a capture scenario seems more likely. Conclusions. The discovery of 2023 FW14 suggests that regular Mars-crossing asteroids can be captured as temporary Mars trojans.

NEOWISE Observations of Distant Active Long-period Comets C/2014 B1 (Schwartz), C/2017 K2 (Pan-STARRS), and C/2010 U3 (Boattini)

Hyperactive comet activity typically becomes evident beyond the frost line (∼3–4 au) where it becomes too cold for water-ice to sublimate. If carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are the species that drive activity at sufficiently large distances, then detailed studies on the production rates of these species are extremely valuable to examine the formation of the solar system because these two species (beyond water) are next culpable for driving cometary activity. The NEOWISE reactivated mission operates at two imaging bandpasses, W1 and W2 at 3.4 μm and 4.6 μm, respectively, with the W2 channel being fully capable of detecting CO and CO2 at 4.67 μm and 4.23 μm in the same bandpass. It is extremely difficult to study CO2 from the ground due to contamination in Earth’s atmosphere. We present our W1 and W2 photometry, dust measurements, and findings for comets C/2014 B1 (Schwartz), C/2017 K2 (Pan-STARRS), and C/2010 U3 (Boattini), hereafter, B1, K2, and U3, respectively. Our results assess CO and CO2 gas production rates observed by NEOWISE. We have determined: (1) comets B1 and K2 have CO2 and CO gas production rates of ∼1027 and ∼1029 molecules s−1, respectively, if one assumes the excess emission is attributed to either all CO or all CO2; (2) B1 and K2 are considered hyperactive in that their measured Af ρ dust production values are on the order of ≳103 cm; and (3) the CO and CO2 production rates do not always follow the expected convention of increasing with decreased heliocentric distance, while B1 and K2 exhibit noticeable dust activity on their inbound leg orbits.

Eccentricity Distribution beyond the Snow Line and Implications for Planetary Habitability

A fundamental question in the study of planetary system demographics is: how common is the solar system architecture? The primary importance of this question lies in the potential of planetary systems to create habitable environments, and dissecting the various components of solar system evolution that contributed to a sustainable temperate surface for Earth. One important factor in that respect is volatile delivery to the inner system and the dependence on giant planets beyond the snow line as scattering agents, particularly as such cold giant planets are relatively rare. Here, we provide an investigation of the eccentricity distribution for giant planet populations both interior and exterior to their system snow lines. We show that the median eccentricity for cold giants is 0.23, compared with a far more circular orbital regime for inner planets. We further present the results of a dynamical simulation that explores the particle scattering potential for a Jupiter analog in comparison with a Jupiter whose eccentricity matches that of the median cold giant eccentricity. These simulations demonstrate that the capacity for such an eccentric cold giant system to scatter volatiles interior to the snow line is significantly increased compared with the Jupiter analog case, resulting in a far greater volume of Earth-crossing volatiles. Thus, many of the known systems with cold giant planets may harbor water worlds interior to the snow line.

Quantification of bulk elemental composition for C‐type asteroid Ryugu samples with nondestructive elemental analysis using muon beam

AbstractSamples from asteroid Ryugu, brought back by asteroid explorer Hayabusa2, are important for investigating the origin and evolution of the solar system. Here, we report the elemental compositions of a 123‐mg Ryugu sample determined with a nondestructive muon elemental analysis method. This method is a powerful tool for determining bulk chemical composition, including light elements such as C, N, and O. From the muonic x‐ray spectra with three carbonaceous chondrites, the relationship between the elemental composition and muonic x‐ray intensity was determined for each element. Calibration curves showed linearity, and the elemental composition of Ryugu was quantitatively determined. The results reflect the average bulk elemental composition of asteroid Ryugu owing to the large amount of samples. Ryugu has an elemental composition similar to that of Orgueil (CI1) and should be classified as CI1. However, the O/Si ratio of Ryugu is 25% lower than that of Orgueil, indicating that Orgueil may have been seriously contaminated by terrestrial materials after its fall to Earth. These results indicate that the Ryugu sample is more representative than the CI chondrites as a solid material of the solar system.

Gamma-Ray-Induced Amino Acid Formation during Aqueous Alteration in Small Bodies: The Effects of Compositions of Starting Solutions.

Organic compounds, such as amino acids, are essential for the origin of life, and they may have been delivered to the prebiotic Earth from extra-terrestrial sources, such as carbonaceous chondrites. In the parent bodies of carbonaceous chondrites, the radioactive decays of short-lived radionuclides, such as 26Al, cause the melting of ice, and aqueous alteration occurs in the early stages of solar system formation. Many experimental studies have shown that complex organic matter, including amino acids and high-molecular-weight organic compounds, is produced by such hydrothermal processes. On the other hand, radiation, particularly gamma rays from radionuclides, can contribute to the formation of amino acids from simple molecules such as formaldehyde and ammonia. In this study, we investigated the details of gamma-ray-induced amino acid formation, focusing on the effects of different starting materials on aqueous solutions of formaldehyde, ammonia, methanol, and glycolaldehyde with various compositions, as well as hexamethylenetetramine. Alanine and glycine were the most abundantly formed amino acids after acid hydrolysis of gamma-ray-irradiated products. Amino acid formation increased with increasing gamma-ray irradiation doses. Lower amounts of ammonia relative to formaldehyde produced more amino acids. Glycolaldehyde significantly increased amino acid yields. Our results indicated that glycolaldehyde formation from formaldehyde enhanced by gamma rays is key for the subsequent production of amino acids.

Spectroscopy of the binary TNO Mors–Somnus with the JWST and its relationship to the cold classical and plutino subpopulations observed in the DiSCo-TNO project

Context. Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) are remnants of small icy bodies from planetary formation that orbit in the region beyond Neptune. Within the population of TNOs, Trans-Neptunian binaries (TNBs) provide a valuable opportunity to test the models of the formation and evolution of planetesimals in the trans-Neptunian region. Various theories have been proposed to describe the observed separations between binary components, their relative sizes, and other orbital parameters. The colors of TNOs have been used to trace the dynamical history of the outer Solar System and the colors of TNB components provide tests for formation theories. However, spectral information for the components of small TNBs, crucial information that could validate formation mechanisms, has until now remained elusive. Aims. The main goal of this work is to characterize the near-infrared spectral properties of the TNB plutino (341520) Mors–Somnus, the only TNB with resolved components in the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Large Cycle 1 General Observer program “DiSCo-TNOs” (PID 2418; PI: Pinilla-Alonso). The secondary goal is to use the surface compositions of the individual components of the Mors–Somnus system to probe formation and dynamical evolution in the outer Solar System through comparison to the surface properties of the cold classical and plutino (3:2 resonant) dynamical groups. Methods. To achieve these goals, we measured the spectral slope of the continuum and identified absorption bands in the individual spectra of Mors and Somnus, as well as in those of the cold classicals and plutinos obtained with the NIRSpec Integral Field Unit (IFU) and the PRISM/CLEAR disperser (0.6–5.3 μm), and compared these results to shed light on the dynamical evolution of the Mors–Somnus binary. Results. The spectra of Mors and Somnus are similar and indicate the presence of complex organic materials, CO2, CO, OH-compounds, and tentative nitrogen-rich materials. We find a high degree of compositional diversity in the plutino population, a group of TNOs that likely formed elsewhere and moved to their current orbits during the migration of Neptune, while the cold classical TNOs, which likely formed in situ, appear more homogeneous. Conclusions. The very wide separation between the components, their nearly equal sizes, and the high orbital inclination of the system suggest this plutino binary is a survivor of the primordial population of objects beyond 30 au. The similarities found between the spectral features of the plutinos Mors and Somnus and those of all of the cold classical TNOs in the DiSCo-TNOs sample as well as the high degree of compositional heterogeneity found in the plutino population provide compositional evidence for evaluation of Neptune’s migration in the trans-Neptunian region early on in the history of the Solar System.

Rubidium isotopic compositions of angrites controlled by extensive evaporation and partial recondensation.

The planetesimals in the solar system exhibit varying degrees of moderately volatile elements (MVEs) depletion compared to the protosolar composition. Revealing the relevant mechanisms is crucial for exploring early solar system evolution. Most volatile-depleted materials in the solar system exhibit enrichments in the heavier isotopes of MVEs, which have traditionally been attributed to the loss of volatiles through partial evaporation. Angrites are so far an exception as they are enriched in the lighter isotopes of K. This has been interpreted as reflecting condensation processes. Here, we present Rb isotopic data of angrites and find that they have lighter Rb isotopic compositions than Vesta, Mars, and the Moon. The δ87Rb value of the angrite parent body (APB) is estimated to range between -1.19‰ and -0.67‰. The extremely light Rb isotopic composition of the APB is likely a result of the kinetic recondensation of Rb after near-complete evaporation during the magma ocean stage. This finding provides further support for the partial recondensation model to explain the light Rb and K isotopic compositions of the APB. In addition, the APB, alongside other terrestrial planetary bodies (e.g., Earth, Mars, Moon, and Vesta), exhibit a strong correlation between their Rb and K isotopic compositions. This coupling of Rb and K isotopes is indicative of a volatility-driven isotopic fractionation rather than nucleosynthetic anomalies. The extremely light Rb-K isotopic signatures of the APB suggest that beyond evaporation, condensation plays an equally significant role in shaping the planetary-scale distributions of volatile elements.

First classification of iron meteorite fragment preserved in Chang’e-5 lunar soils

Lunar soil preserves numerous fragments of meteorites impacting on the Moon, providing a unique opportunity to investigate the distribution of the types of projectiles over billions of years. Here we report the first discovery of an iron meteorite fragment from the Chang’e-5 lunar soil, which consists mainly of martensite (quenched from taenite), kamacite, and schreibersite, with a trace of pentlandite. The meteorite fragment is Ni- and P-rich, S-poor, and based on its mineral chemistry and bulk composition, can be classified into the IID-group, a rare and carbonaceous group of iron meteorite originating in the outer Solar System. This meteorite fragment experienced only limited partial melting followed by fast cooling, suggestive of efficient preservation of intact remnants of iron meteorites impacting on the porous lunar regolith. Alternatively, it is a relic of a low-velocity impact of submillimeter-sized metal grains originated from an IID-like iron meteorite. Our observations demonstrate that it is feasible to achieve the type distribution of meteorites impacting on the Moon via systematically analyzing a large number of metal grains separated from lunar soils, thus shedding light on the dynamic evolution of the Solar System.