A paper detailing this study appears in the AAS *Astrophysical Journal*, addressing the "solar abundances" issue that has long puzzled scientists.
"This is the first time this kind of interdisciplinary analysis has been done, and our broad data set suggests more abundant levels of solar carbon, nitrogen and oxygen than previously thought," said Dr. Ngoc Truong, a postdoctoral researcher at SwRI. "Solar system formation models using the new solar composition successfully reproduce the compositions of large Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) and carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, in light of the newly returned Ryugu and Bennu asteroid samples from JAXA's Hayabusa-2 and NASA's OSIRIS-REx missions."
The research integrated solar neutrino measurements and data from NASA's Genesis mission on solar wind composition. It also considered water content in primitive meteorites from the outer solar system and density data for large KBOs like Pluto and Charon from NASA's New Horizons mission.
"This work provides testable predictions for future helioseismology, solar neutrino and cosmochemical measurements, including future comet sample return missions," Truong noted. "The solar composition is used to calibrate other stars and understand the composition and formation of solar system objects. These breakthroughs will enhance our understanding of the primordial solar nebula's chemistry and the formation of numerous solar system bodies."
The team studied the role of organic, tar-like compounds as a significant carbon carrier in the early solar system. Previous solar models did not accurately represent the dense, rocky characteristics of the Pluto-Charon system when based on widely accepted element ratios and organic data from comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
"With this research, we think we finally understand the mix of chemical elements that made the solar system," commented Dr. Christopher Glein of SwRI, an expert in planetary geochemistry. "It has more carbon, nitrogen and oxygen than what is currently assumed. This new knowledge gives us a firmer basis for understanding what element abundances in giant planet atmospheres can tell us about the formation of planets. We already have our eyes on Uranus - NASA's next target destination - and beyond."
In exoplanet research, scientists use spectroscopic measurements of stars to infer the composition of their orbiting planets. The revised solar composition model may transform this approach and enrich understanding of planetary formation.
"Our findings will significantly affect our understanding about the formation and evolution of other stars and planetary systems, and even further, they enable a broader perspective of galactic chemical evolution," Truong said.
A Cornell University scientist participated in the study, supported by SwRI's Internal Research and Development program and the Heising-Simons Foundation.
Research Report:A broad set of solar and cosmochemical data indicates high C-N-O abundances for the solar system
Related Links
Planetary Science at SwRI
Solar Science News at SpaceDaily
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