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Silicate Stardust from CometsInterplanetary dust particles (IDPs) collected in the Earth s stratosphere are 5-50 pm fragments of asteroids and comets. Anhydrous IDPs have escaped significant parent body hydrothermal alteration and are further distinct from meteorites in their greater abundances of volatile elements and C, fine grained (l00 - 500 nm) textures, and unequilibrated mineralogies. Many anhydrous IDPs contain high abundances interstellar organic compounds and grains of silicate stardust. These observations are consistent with properties of comets inferred from remote astronomical observations. Comets have been thought to be pristine aggregates of interstellar materials. However, spectroscopic observations of crystalline silicates in comets has challenged this notion, given their apparent absence in the interstellar medium.
Document ID
20030073580
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Messenger, S.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Keller, L. P.
(NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Publication Information
Publication: Workshop on Cometary Dust in Astrophysics
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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