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SolarSystem

The Solar System formed 4.56 billion years ago out of a swirling molecular cloud of dust and gas. The solar nebula only lasted for several million years, but resulted in the system of planets, moons, asteroids and comets that we see today. The early solar system record is available to us through primitive meteorites that largely originate from the asteroid belt. These primitive meteorites contain inclusions from early high temperature processing (refractory inclusions and chondrules), as well as a matrix that interacted with nebula gas and contains volatile elements. Also within the matrix are presolar grains, material that has condensed around other stars that has survived solar system formation. These grains tell the story of stellar nuclear reactions and survival in the interstellar medium before their incorporation in our solar system.

The planets formed from solid materials available within orbital reach. The chondrite meteorites have well mixed sources and the most primitive chondrite meteorites (CI) have abundances that are close to those in the solar atmosphere. However, we know very little about the isotopic compositions of the elements in the Sun, and many elements appear to show large scale isotopic heterogeneity in the solar system. Detailing these different reservoirs is fundamental to a better understanding of our stellar heritage.

Additional Pages
Presolar Grains
Refractory Inclusions
Oxygen Isotopes in Lunar Soil