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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths
Published on: July 1, 2019
Helium and neon abundances and compositions in cometary matter
Bernard Marty1, Russell L Palma, Robert O Pepin
1Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, Nancy Université, BP 20, 54501 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France.
Noble gases in comet 81P/Wild 2, captured by Stardust, suggest early solar system origins. These primitive gases, found in igneous grains, indicate formation near the young Sun in a high-energy environment.
Area of Science:
- Cosmic Dust Analysis
- Isotope Geochemistry
- Solar System Formation
Background:
- Comets preserve materials from the early solar system.
- Stardust mission collected samples from comet 81P/Wild 2 for laboratory analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure noble gases in Stardust cometary samples.
- To determine the origin and formation environment of these gases.
Main Methods:
- Noble gas isotope ratio measurements (Neon, Helium).
- Analysis of cometary dust particles captured by the Stardust spacecraft.
Main Results:
- Neon isotope ratios align with primitive meteorite components (phase Q).
- Helium isotope ratios (3He/4He) are twice those of phase Q and Jupiter.
- High gas abundances suggest ion irradiation implantation.
- Gases are hosted in high-temperature igneous grains.
Conclusions:
- Cometary gases likely acquired in a hot, high ion-flux nebular environment near the young Sun.
- Findings support the presence of primitive, gas-rich materials in the early solar system.
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Noble Gases
The elements in group 18 are noble gases (helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon). They earned the name “noble” because they were assumed to be nonreactive since they have filled valence shells. In 1962, Dr. Neil Bartlett at the University of British Columbia proved this assumption to be false.
The Equilibrium Constant
Electron Configuration of Multielectron Atoms
Halogens
Emission Spectra
Atomic Structure