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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
11:34
Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths
Published on: July 1, 2019
Chondrulelike objects in short-period comet 81P/Wild 2
Tomoki Nakamura1, Takaaki Noguchi, Akira Tsuchiyama
1Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Hakozaki, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan. tomoki@geo.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 20, 2008
Summary
Stardust mission samples reveal crystalline particles from comet 81P/Wild 2 that formed via high-temperature flash-melting. These chondrule-like objects suggest early solar system material was widely distributed.
Area of Science:
- Cosmochemistry
- Planetary Science
- Astrogeology
Background:
- Stardust mission returned samples from comet 81P/Wild 2.
- These samples contain crystalline material of unknown origin.
- Chondrules, dominant particles in chondrites, are believed to form in the inner solar nebula.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origin and nature of crystalline material in cometary samples.
- To compare cometary particles with known solar system materials like chondrules.
- To understand the distribution and formation processes of early solar system materials.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of four crystalline particles from comet 81P/Wild 2.
- Textural, mineralogical, and compositional analysis.
- Oxygen isotope analysis.
Main Results:
- Four crystalline particles exhibit characteristics similar to chondrules.
- These particles formed via high-temperature flash-melting.
- Oxygen isotope compositions align with chondrules from carbonaceous chondrites.
Conclusions:
- Cometary particles can be similar to chondrules found in meteorites.
- High-temperature processes occurred in the outer solar nebula.
- Chondrule-like objects were transported from the inner to the outer solar system, indicating widespread distribution of early solar system material.
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