Meteorites & Asteroids Archives

Energy deposition E0 in J m−1 for individual meteoroids of a given mass descending through Titan’s atmosphere. The inversion at lower altitudes occurs as the particles begin to both decelerate and lose mass, resulting in a decreasing amount of energy being deposited. -- astro-ph.EP

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Impact events, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release, Titan

Shock Synthesis of Organic Molecules by Meteoroids in the Atmosphere of Titan

by Keith CowingJuly 21, 2023July 21, 2023

Thermochemical modeling and shock-tube experiments show that shocks applied to N2/CH4 gas mixtures can synthesize organic molecules. Sufficiently large, hypersonic meteoroids entering the atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan should therefore […]

Ablation of Chelyabinsk meteorite sample in PWK1 plasma wind tunnel at the HEFDiG of the Institute of Space Systems at the University of Stuttgart. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Analysis of CN Emission As A Marker Of Organic Compounds In Meteoroids Using Laboratory Simulated Meteors

by Keith CowingJuly 12, 2023July 12, 2023

Fragments of small solar system bodies entering Earth’s atmosphere have possibly been important contributors of organic compounds to the early Earth.

Chondrules and matrix in the Mokoia CV-chondrite with backscattered electrons. The darker chondrules indicate lower FeO contents. Bright spots are sulfides or metal. -- physics.geo-ph

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

The Origin Of Chondrules: Constraints From Matrix-Chondrule Complementarity

by Keith CowingJuly 6, 2023July 6, 2023

One of the major unresolved problems in cosmochemistry is the origin of chondrules, once molten, spherical silicate droplets with diameters of 0.2 to 2 mm.

Compositions of olivine in primitive solar system materials. Panel "a" shows detail in the dashed rectangle of panel "b". Reported MnO contents of meteoritic and IDP olivines are plotted as a function of wt% FeO, where mole fractions tephroite (XTep) and fayalite (XFa) are nearly equal to wt% MnO/100 and wt% FeO/100, respectively, at the low XTep and XFa of "a". Long dashed lines indicate constant wt% FeO/MnO ratios. Data are from Klöck et al. (1989, their Table 1 and Fig. 1), Weisberg et al. (1995, their Fig. 6; 2004), Zolensky et al. (2006, their Fig. S2b), Rubin (1984, his Table 2, px: pyroxene, ol: olivine), Steele (1990, his Tables 1,3), Sugiura et al. (2009, their Table 1), and Nakamura et al. (2008, their Table S1). Matrix olivines in “a” are from CM2 chondrites (E: EET83226, and M: Murchison; inverted triangles) and Orgueil (CI; open rectangles). Two populations of Semarkona (LL3.0) matrix olivines (open circles) are FeO-rich, in “a”, and MnO-rich, in “b” (Klöck et al. 1989). Core and MnO-rich rim analyses of olivine from two AOAs (Sugiura et al. 2009) are indicated. The dotted line in "a" indicates the condensation trend for a vapor of solar composition at Ptot = 10-4 bar, with equipartition of Mn between pyroxenes and olivine (see Fig. 3). --- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Thermochemical Stability of Low-Iron, Manganese-Enriched Olivine in Astrophysical Environments

by Keith CowingJuly 5, 2023December 2, 2023

Low-iron, manganese-enriched (LIME) olivine grains are found in cometary samples returned by the Stardust mission to comet 81P/Wild 2. Similar grains are found in primitive meteoritic clasts and unequilibrated meteorite […]

Sulfur-bearing species detected by ROSINA (Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis)–DFMS (Double Focusing Mass Spectrometer) before and during the dust event on 5 September 2016, ~2 km above the nucleus surface. 17:xx denotes measurements made before the dust impact between 17:15 and 17:55 UTC (depending on mass), and 18:xx denotes measurements during the dust impact (18:09 to 18:50). (A) CnHmSl bearing species, n = 0 to 4; m = 0 to 6, l = 1 to 2. (B) CnHmOlS- and CHnNS-bearing species, n = 0 to 3; m = 0 to 6, l = 1 to 2. Species are ordered by mass/charge ratio (m/z) but not spaced accordingly (x axis not linear). The value, pre-event, for SO could not be derived as the spectrum is corrupted. Abundances are given in arbitrary units (a.u.) but corrected for instrumental effects (mass-dependent sensitivity). Caution: During the impact, coma background densities decreased over the 40 min needed to cover the mass range. Higher masses are therefore underestimated compared to low masses. - Caltech/Science Advances

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Missions & Hardware, Status Report

Complex Organosulfur Molecules On Comet 67P: Evidence From The ROSINA Measurements And Insights From Laboratory Simulations

by Keith CowingJuly 1, 2023July 1, 2023

The ROSINA (Rosetta Orbiter Spectrometer for Ion and Neutral Analysis) instrument aboard the Rosetta mission revolutionized our understanding of cometary material composition. One of Rosetta’s key findings is the complexity […]

Condensation predictions (a) and experimental results (b). Red dash-dot line indicates the T below which olivine is stable, black dashed line the T below which metal alloy is stable. Black dots in (b) indicate experiments at composition and T of condensed oxide assemblages of (a), omitting metal alloy. (a) Adapted from Ebel (2006, Plate 10), (b) Adapted from Ustunisik et al. (2014). -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Condensation Calculations In Planetary Science And Cosmochemistry

by Keith CowingJune 28, 2023June 28, 2023

Cool a piece of the Sun to 1000 K at one millibar pressure to yield a mineral assemblage consistent with those found in the most primitive meteorites. This is an […]

Mg-Ca-Al = red-green-blue x-ray mosaics of (A) Kainsaz 4717-1Cp1 (CO 3.2), showing clast outlines (yellow lines) in right hand portion; (B) Allende AL2ps25 (CVOxA ~3.6), showing outlines and clasts labels; (C) Vigarano (CV-R 3.3), showing outlines; (D) ~800 µm chondrule in Colony (CO 3.0), plane polarized light image (upper) and x-ray mosaic (lower) showing outline (dashed line); (E) Tibooburra (CV 3), showing outlines and, on right, grayscale input to ImageJ step of analysis algorithm; and (F) cropped area of Acfer 094 (C2-ungr) showing outlines (yellow). -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Abundance, Major Element Composition and Size of Components and Matrix in CV, CO and Acfer 094 Chondrites

by Keith CowingJune 27, 2023June 27, 2023

The relative abundances and chemical compositions of the macroscopic components or “inclusions” (chondrules and refractory inclusions) and fine-grained mineral matrix in chondritic meteorites provide constraints on astrophysical theories of inclusion […]

This mosaic of Bennu was created using observations made by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which studied the asteroid in close proximity for over two years. Credits: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Planetary Protection & Biosafety, Press Release

Preparing The OSIRIS-REx Curation Laboratory At Johnson Space Center

by Keith CowingJune 25, 2023June 25, 2023

If everything goes according to plan, OSIRIS-REx’s sample return capsule will separate from the spacecraft, enter the Earth’s atmosphere and parachute safely to Earth for recovery at the Department of […]

Asteroid Itokawa as seen by the Hayabusa spacecraft. The peanut-shaped S-type asteroid measures approximately 1,100 feet in diameter and completes one rotation every 12 hours. -- JAXA

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Comets and Asteroids, Meteorites & Asteroids, Status Report

Asteroid Itokawa Once Supported a Hydrothermal System

by Keith CowingJune 23, 2023June 23, 2023

Ordinary chondrites (OCs) are the most abundant type of meteorites that fall to Earth. Compared to the carbonaceous chondrites, which commonly contain abundant hydrous minerals, OCs consist mainly of anhydrous […]

Campo del Cielo iron meteorite with natural hole - Wikipedia

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Origin & Evolution of Life, Press Release

Meteoritic And Volcanic Particles May Have Promoted Origin Of Life Reactions

by Keith CowingMay 26, 2023

Precursors of the molecules needed for the origin of life may have been generated by chemical reactions promoted by iron-rich particles from meteors or volcanic eruptions on Earth approximately 4.4 […]

Meteorites & Asteroids

Shock Synthesis of Organic Molecules by Meteoroids in the Atmosphere of Titan

Analysis of CN Emission As A Marker Of Organic Compounds In Meteoroids Using Laboratory Simulated Meteors

The Origin Of Chondrules: Constraints From Matrix-Chondrule Complementarity

Thermochemical Stability of Low-Iron, Manganese-Enriched Olivine in Astrophysical Environments

Complex Organosulfur Molecules On Comet 67P: Evidence From The ROSINA Measurements And Insights From Laboratory Simulations

Condensation Calculations In Planetary Science And Cosmochemistry

Abundance, Major Element Composition and Size of Components and Matrix in CV, CO and Acfer 094 Chondrites

Preparing The OSIRIS-REx Curation Laboratory At Johnson Space Center

Asteroid Itokawa Once Supported a Hydrothermal System

Meteoritic And Volcanic Particles May Have Promoted Origin Of Life Reactions

Ancient Layers On Mars Exposed By A Crater Within A Crater In Terra Sirenum

Send Your Name to Titan Aboard NASA’s Dragonfly Astrobiology Mission

Reconciling Giant Impacts with the Radius Valley: The Role of Silicate-Hydrogen Miscibility for Sub-Neptunes

Comprehensive Visible and Near-infrared Keck and Gemini Monitoring and Characterization of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS during its Encounter with the Solar System

ExoVetter and a TESS Exoplanet Transit Search of Kepler Stars as Ground Truth