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Marty B, Palma RL, Pepin RO, Zimmermann L, Schlutter DJ, Burnard PG, Westphal AJ, Snead CJ, Bajt S, Becker RH, Simones JE. Helium and neon abundances and compositions in cometary matter. Science 2008; 319:75-8. [PMID: 18174437 DOI: 10.1126/science.1148001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Materials trapped and preserved in comets date from the earliest history of the solar system. Particles captured by the Stardust spacecraft from comet 81P/Wild 2 are indisputable cometary matter available for laboratory study. Here we report measurements of noble gases in Stardust material. Neon isotope ratios are within the range observed in "phase Q," a ubiquitous, primitive organic carrier of noble gases in meteorites. Helium displays 3He/4He ratios twice those in phase Q and in Jupiter's atmosphere. Abundances per gram are surprisingly large, suggesting implantation by ion irradiation. The gases are probably carried in high-temperature igneous grains similar to particles found in other Stardust studies. Collectively, the evidence points to gas acquisition in a hot, high ion-flux nebular environment close to the young Sun.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Marty
- Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, Nancy Université, BP 20, 54501 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France
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McKeegan KD, Aléon J, Bradley J, Brownlee D, Busemann H, Butterworth A, Chaussidon M, Fallon S, Floss C, Gilmour J, Gounelle M, Graham G, Guan Y, Heck PR, Hoppe P, Hutcheon ID, Huth J, Ishii H, Ito M, Jacobsen SB, Kearsley A, Leshin LA, Liu MC, Lyon I, Marhas K, Marty B, Matrajt G, Meibom A, Messenger S, Mostefaoui S, Mukhopadhyay S, Nakamura-Messenger K, Nittler L, Palma R, Pepin RO, Papanastassiou DA, Robert F, Schlutter D, Snead CJ, Stadermann FJ, Stroud R, Tsou P, Westphal A, Young ED, Ziegler K, Zimmermann L, Zinner E. Isotopic compositions of cometary matter returned by Stardust. Science 2006; 314:1724-8. [PMID: 17170292 DOI: 10.1126/science.1135992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 301] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopic compositions are heterogeneous among comet 81P/Wild 2 particle fragments; however, extreme isotopic anomalies are rare, indicating that the comet is not a pristine aggregate of presolar materials. Nonterrestrial nitrogen and neon isotope ratios suggest that indigenous organic matter and highly volatile materials were successfully collected. Except for a single (17)O-enriched circumstellar stardust grain, silicate and oxide minerals have oxygen isotopic compositions consistent with solar system origin. One refractory grain is (16)O-enriched, like refractory inclusions in meteorites, suggesting that Wild 2 contains material formed at high temperature in the inner solar system and transported to the Kuiper belt before comet accretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D McKeegan
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567, USA.
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Flynn GJ, Bleuet P, Borg J, Bradley JP, Brenker FE, Brennan S, Bridges J, Brownlee DE, Bullock ES, Burghammer M, Clark BC, Dai ZR, Daghlian CP, Djouadi Z, Fakra S, Ferroir T, Floss C, Franchi IA, Gainsforth Z, Gallien JP, Gillet P, Grant PG, Graham GA, Green SF, Grossemy F, Heck PR, Herzog GF, Hoppe P, Hörz F, Huth J, Ignatyev K, Ishii HA, Janssens K, Joswiak D, Kearsley AT, Khodja H, Lanzirotti A, Leitner J, Lemelle L, Leroux H, Luening K, Macpherson GJ, Marhas KK, Marcus MA, Matrajt G, Nakamura T, Nakamura-Messenger K, Nakano T, Newville M, Papanastassiou DA, Pianetta P, Rao W, Riekel C, Rietmeijer FJM, Rost D, Schwandt CS, See TH, Sheffield-Parker J, Simionovici A, Sitnitsky I, Snead CJ, Stadermann FJ, Stephan T, Stroud RM, Susini J, Suzuki Y, Sutton SR, Taylor S, Teslich N, Troadec D, Tsou P, Tsuchiyama A, Uesugi K, Vekemans B, Vicenzi EP, Vincze L, Westphal AJ, Wozniakiewicz P, Zinner E, Zolensky ME. Elemental compositions of comet 81P/Wild 2 samples collected by Stardust. Science 2006; 314:1731-5. [PMID: 17170294 DOI: 10.1126/science.1136141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
We measured the elemental compositions of material from 23 particles in aerogel and from residue in seven craters in aluminum foil that was collected during passage of the Stardust spacecraft through the coma of comet 81P/Wild 2. These particles are chemically heterogeneous at the largest size scale analyzed ( approximately 180 ng). The mean elemental composition of this Wild 2 material is consistent with the CI meteorite composition, which is thought to represent the bulk composition of the solar system, for the elements Mg, Si, Mn, Fe, and Ni to 35%, and for Ca and Ti to 60%. The elements Cu, Zn, and Ga appear enriched in this Wild 2 material, which suggests that the CI meteorites may not represent the solar system composition for these moderately volatile minor elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- George J Flynn
- Department of Physics, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USA.
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Zolensky ME, Zega TJ, Yano H, Wirick S, Westphal AJ, Weisberg MK, Weber I, Warren JL, Velbel MA, Tsuchiyama A, Tsou P, Toppani A, Tomioka N, Tomeoka K, Teslich N, Taheri M, Susini J, Stroud R, Stephan T, Stadermann FJ, Snead CJ, Simon SB, Simionovici A, See TH, Robert F, Rietmeijer FJM, Rao W, Perronnet MC, Papanastassiou DA, Okudaira K, Ohsumi K, Ohnishi I, Nakamura-Messenger K, Nakamura T, Mostefaoui S, Mikouchi T, Meibom A, Matrajt G, Marcus MA, Leroux H, Lemelle L, Le L, Lanzirotti A, Langenhorst F, Krot AN, Keller LP, Kearsley AT, Joswiak D, Jacob D, Ishii H, Harvey R, Hagiya K, Grossman L, Grossman JN, Graham GA, Gounelle M, Gillet P, Genge MJ, Flynn G, Ferroir T, Fallon S, Fakra S, Ebel DS, Dai ZR, Cordier P, Clark B, Chi M, Butterworth AL, Brownlee DE, Bridges JC, Brennan S, Brearley A, Bradley JP, Bleuet P, Bland PA, Bastien R. Mineralogy and petrology of comet 81P/Wild 2 nucleus samples. Science 2006; 314:1735-9. [PMID: 17170295 DOI: 10.1126/science.1135842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 531] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The bulk of the comet 81P/Wild 2 (hereafter Wild 2) samples returned to Earth by the Stardust spacecraft appear to be weakly constructed mixtures of nanometer-scale grains, with occasional much larger (over 1 micrometer) ferromagnesian silicates, Fe-Ni sulfides, Fe-Ni metal, and accessory phases. The very wide range of olivine and low-Ca pyroxene compositions in comet Wild 2 requires a wide range of formation conditions, probably reflecting very different formation locations in the protoplanetary disk. The restricted compositional ranges of Fe-Ni sulfides, the wide range for silicates, and the absence of hydrous phases indicate that comet Wild 2 experienced little or no aqueous alteration. Less abundant Wild 2 materials include a refractory particle, whose presence appears to require radial transport in the early protoplanetary disk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Zolensky
- Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058, USA.
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Sandford SA, Aléon J, Alexander CMO, Araki T, Bajt S, Baratta GA, Borg J, Bradley JP, Brownlee DE, Brucato JR, Burchell MJ, Busemann H, Butterworth A, Clemett SJ, Cody G, Colangeli L, Cooper G, D'Hendecourt L, Djouadi Z, Dworkin JP, Ferrini G, Fleckenstein H, Flynn GJ, Franchi IA, Fries M, Gilles MK, Glavin DP, Gounelle M, Grossemy F, Jacobsen C, Keller LP, Kilcoyne ALD, Leitner J, Matrajt G, Meibom A, Mennella V, Mostefaoui S, Nittler LR, Palumbo ME, Papanastassiou DA, Robert F, Rotundi A, Snead CJ, Spencer MK, Stadermann FJ, Steele A, Stephan T, Tsou P, Tyliszczak T, Westphal AJ, Wirick S, Wopenka B, Yabuta H, Zare RN, Zolensky ME. Organics Captured from Comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust Spacecraft. Science 2006; 314:1720-4. [PMID: 17170291 DOI: 10.1126/science.1135841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 463] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Organics found in comet 81P/Wild 2 samples show a heterogeneous and unequilibrated distribution in abundance and composition. Some organics are similar, but not identical, to those in interplanetary dust particles and carbonaceous meteorites. A class of aromatic-poor organic material is also present. The organics are rich in oxygen and nitrogen compared with meteoritic organics. Aromatic compounds are present, but the samples tend to be relatively poorer in aromatics than are meteorites and interplanetary dust particles. The presence of deuterium and nitrogen-15 excesses suggest that some organics have an interstellar/protostellar heritage. Although the variable extent of modification of these materials by impact capture is not yet fully constrained, a diverse suite of organic compounds is present and identifiable within the returned samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Sandford
- Astrophysics Branch, NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.
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Brownlee D, Tsou P, Aléon J, Alexander CMO, Araki T, Bajt S, Baratta GA, Bastien R, Bland P, Bleuet P, Borg J, Bradley JP, Brearley A, Brenker F, Brennan S, Bridges JC, Browning ND, Brucato JR, Bullock E, Burchell MJ, Busemann H, Butterworth A, Chaussidon M, Cheuvront A, Chi M, Cintala MJ, Clark BC, Clemett SJ, Cody G, Colangeli L, Cooper G, Cordier P, Daghlian C, Dai Z, D'Hendecourt L, Djouadi Z, Dominguez G, Duxbury T, Dworkin JP, Ebel DS, Economou TE, Fakra S, Fairey SAJ, Fallon S, Ferrini G, Ferroir T, Fleckenstein H, Floss C, Flynn G, Franchi IA, Fries M, Gainsforth Z, Gallien JP, Genge M, Gilles MK, Gillet P, Gilmour J, Glavin DP, Gounelle M, Grady MM, Graham GA, Grant PG, Green SF, Grossemy F, Grossman L, Grossman JN, Guan Y, Hagiya K, Harvey R, Heck P, Herzog GF, Hoppe P, Hörz F, Huth J, Hutcheon ID, Ignatyev K, Ishii H, Ito M, Jacob D, Jacobsen C, Jacobsen S, Jones S, Joswiak D, Jurewicz A, Kearsley AT, Keller LP, Khodja H, Kilcoyne ALD, Kissel J, Krot A, Langenhorst F, Lanzirotti A, Le L, Leshin LA, Leitner J, Lemelle L, Leroux H, Liu MC, Luening K, Lyon I, Macpherson G, Marcus MA, Marhas K, Marty B, Matrajt G, McKeegan K, Meibom A, Mennella V, Messenger K, Messenger S, Mikouchi T, Mostefaoui S, Nakamura T, Nakano T, Newville M, Nittler LR, Ohnishi I, Ohsumi K, Okudaira K, Papanastassiou DA, Palma R, Palumbo ME, Pepin RO, Perkins D, Perronnet M, Pianetta P, Rao W, Rietmeijer FJM, Robert F, Rost D, Rotundi A, Ryan R, Sandford SA, Schwandt CS, See TH, Schlutter D, Sheffield-Parker J, Simionovici A, Simon S, Sitnitsky I, Snead CJ, Spencer MK, Stadermann FJ, Steele A, Stephan T, Stroud R, Susini J, Sutton SR, Suzuki Y, Taheri M, Taylor S, Teslich N, Tomeoka K, Tomioka N, Toppani A, Trigo-Rodríguez JM, Troadec D, Tsuchiyama A, Tuzzolino AJ, Tyliszczak T, Uesugi K, Velbel M, Vellenga J, Vicenzi E, Vincze L, Warren J, Weber I, Weisberg M, Westphal AJ, Wirick S, Wooden D, Wopenka B, Wozniakiewicz P, Wright I, Yabuta H, Yano H, Young ED, Zare RN, Zega T, Ziegler K, Zimmerman L, Zinner E, Zolensky M. Comet 81P/Wild 2 Under a Microscope. Science 2006; 314:1711-6. [PMID: 17170289 DOI: 10.1126/science.1135840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 740] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The Stardust spacecraft collected thousands of particles from comet 81P/Wild 2 and returned them to Earth for laboratory study. The preliminary examination of these samples shows that the nonvolatile portion of the comet is an unequilibrated assortment of materials that have both presolar and solar system origin. The comet contains an abundance of silicate grains that are much larger than predictions of interstellar grain models, and many of these are high-temperature minerals that appear to have formed in the inner regions of the solar nebula. Their presence in a comet proves that the formation of the solar system included mixing on the grandest scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don Brownlee
- Department of Astronomy, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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