meteorites Archives - Page 5 of 6 - Astrobiology

𝐼 and 𝑄 Stokes parameters for silicate grains measured at 220 GHz at the South magnetic pole (top) and at the equator (bottom) aligned with respect to the solar radiation field (𝑘-alignment). We note that maps at both values of 𝛼 reproduce the spurious patterns seen in the temperature maps in Fig. 6, being the ones in the 𝛼 = −2.0 due to higher opacities and boundary effects, and the strike patterns seen in the 𝛼 = −3.5 maps only due to statistical fluctuations in the spatial generation of the photon packages, resulting in negligible spatial variations in the 𝐼 and 𝑄 magnitudes. Maps for the South magnetic pole are identical to those of the equator, since both configurations are equivalent. Negative values of 𝑄 are due to the linear polarization along the 𝑌 axis of the image. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Meteorites & Asteroids, Panspermia, Status Report

Polarized Microwave Emission From Space Particles In The Upper Atmosphere Of The Earth

by Keith CowingOctober 17, 2023October 17, 2023

Tons of space particles enter the Earth atmosphere every year, being detected when they produce fireballs, meteor showers, or when they impact the Earth surface.

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 […]

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 […]

While not part of this study, this photo taken with a microscope shows the impact paths and bodies of small particles of comet debris from U.S. space agency NASA’s Stardust mission in 2004. The aerogel helps decelerate the particles without destroying them in the process. CREDIT ©2023 NASA/JPL CC-0

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Impact events, Interstellar, Meteorites & Asteroids, Panspermia, Press Release

Searching For Life With Space Dust

by Keith CowingMarch 22, 2023March 22, 2023

Following enormous collisions, such as asteroid impacts, some amount of material from an impacted world may be ejected into space.

Cartoon illustrating our preferred scenario

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

Origin Of Isotopic Diversity Among Carbonaceous Chondrites

by Keith CowingMarch 8, 2023March 8, 2023

Carbonaceous chondrites are some of the most primitive meteorites and derive from planetesimals that formed a few million years after the beginning of the solar system.

Dwarf planet Ceres.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Ceres, Comets and Asteroids, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release

An Unknown Class Of Water-rich Asteroids Has Been Identified

by Keith CowingFebruary 20, 2023February 20, 2023

New astronomical measurements in the infrared range have led to the identification of a heretofore unknown class of asteroids

A meteorite thin section

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release

Isotope Research Shows That Our Solar System Formed From “Poorly Mixed Cake Batter”

by Keith CowingJanuary 28, 2023January 28, 2023

Earth’s potassium arrived by meteoritic delivery service finds new research led by Carnegie’s Nicole Nie and Da Wang.

Zn isotope anomalies

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Meteorites & Asteroids, Press Release

Meteorites Reveal The Likely Origin Of Earth’s Volatile Chemicals

by Keith CowingJanuary 27, 2023

By analysing meteorites, Imperial researchers have uncovered the likely far-flung origin of Earth’s volatile chemicals, some of which form the building blocks of life.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Origin & Evolution of Life, Panspermia, Press Release

SwRI Examines The Origins Of The Building Blocks Of Life

by Keith CowingJanuary 11, 2023January 11, 2023

A new study led by Southwest Research Institute Research Scientist Dr. Danna Qasim posits that interstellar cloud conditions may have played a significant role on the presence of key building […]

meteorites

Astrochemistry, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Interstellar, Meteorites & Asteroids, Origin & Evolution of Life, Panspermia, Press Release

Meteorites Plus Gamma Rays Could Have Given Earth The Building Blocks For Life

by Keith CowingDecember 7, 2022December 7, 2022

Even as detailed images of distant galaxies from the James Webb Space Telescope show us more of the greater universe, scientists still disagree about how life began here on Earth.