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From Stardust to Planetesimals: Contributed PapersOn June 24 through 26, 1996, a scientific conference entitled From Stardust to Planetesimals was held at the Westin Hotel, Santa Clara, California, as part of the 108th annual meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Over the last decade, our understanding of the formation and early evolution of the solar system has advanced considerably due to progress that has been made simultaneously on many fronts. Stardust has been isolated in meteorites and interplanetary dust particles (IDP's), providing us with sample materials which predate the solar system and which offer clues to the processing that has occurred. At the same time, infrared studies have led to a better characterization of the composition of interstellar dust, which is now readily accepted as an important component of the interstellar medium infrared observations have also provided a much better view of the star-formation process and the role of dust therein. Recently, the presence of Kuiper Belt planetesimals has been confirmed and spectroscopy of these rather pristine objects may soon become available. Analysis of spacecraft data from the Comet Halley flybys has yielded a wealth of information on the composition of this comet. These observational advances have changed our understanding of planetesimal processing. The launch of the Infrared Space Observatory, the opening of 10-meter class telescopes, and, in the longer term, the Rosetta mission, promise to continue to broaden and deepen our understanding of the evolution from stardust to planetesimals. For these reasons we considered it timely to organize a meeting focused on the processes that connect stardust and planetesimals. The goal of this meeting was, therefore, to bring together astronomers interested in star- and planet-formation, planetary scientists studying early solar system relics, laboratory scientists studying the processing of analogs, and scientists analyzing meteorites and interplanetary dust particles, grain by grain. As a result of this endeavor, over 200 participants, including 153 scientists from 14 different countries, gathered to discuss the origin and evolution of stardust. We hope that this encounter in Santa Clara will foster an ongoing interchange of information and ideas within this diverse group of scientists. A major aim of this meeting was to produce conference proceedings which reflect the current situation regarding the evolution from stardust to planetesimals.
Document ID
19970007821
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Kress, M. E.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Tielens, A. G. G. M.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Pendleton, Y. J.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1996
Subject Category
Astronomy
Report/Patent Number
NAS 1.55:3343
NASA-CP-3343
A-965145
Accession Number
97N14442
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 188-40-01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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