scholarly journals Planetary Formation: Lessons Learned from the Solar System and the Extrasolar Planets

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Turrini
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Extrasolar Planets ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Planetary Formation

The Formation and Evolution of the Solar System

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail Marov
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Observational Data ◽  
Extrasolar Planets ◽  
Inner Core ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Radial Distance ◽  
Planetary Formation ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
Dust Disks

The formation and evolution of our solar system (and planetary systems around other stars) are among the most challenging and intriguing fields of modern science. As the product of a long history of cosmic matter evolution, this important branch of astrophysics is referred to as stellar-planetary cosmogony. Interdisciplinary by way of its content, it is based on fundamental theoretical concepts and available observational data on the processes of star formation. Modern observational data on stellar evolution, disc formation, and the discovery of extrasolar planets, as well as mechanical and cosmochemical properties of the solar system, place important constraints on the different scenarios developed, each supporting the basic cosmogony concept (as rooted in the Kant-Laplace hypothesis). Basically, the sequence of events includes fragmentation of an original interstellar molecular cloud, emergence of a primordial nebula, and accretion of a protoplanetary gas-dust disk around a parent star, followed by disk instability and break-up into primary solid bodies (planetesimals) and their collisional interactions, eventually forming a planet. Recent decades have seen major advances in the field, due to in-depth theoretical and experimental studies. Such advances have clarified a new scenario, which largely supports simultaneous stellar-planetary formation. Here, the collapse of a protosolar nebula’s inner core gives rise to fusion ignition and star birth with an accretion disc left behind: its continuing evolution resulting ultimately in protoplanets and planetary formation. Astronomical observations have allowed us to resolve in great detail the turbulent structure of gas-dust disks and their dynamics in regard to solar system origin. Indeed radio isotope dating of chondrite meteorite samples has charted the age and the chronology of key processes in the formation of the solar system. Significant progress also has been made in the theoretical study and computer modeling of protoplanetary accretion disk thermal regimes; evaporation/condensation of primordial particles depending on their radial distance, mechanisms of clustering, collisions, and dynamics. However, these breakthroughs are yet insufficient to resolve many problems intrinsically related to planetary cosmogony. Significant new questions also have been posed, which require answers. Of great importance are questions on how contemporary natural conditions appeared on solar system planets: specifically, why the three neighbor inner planets—Earth, Venus, and Mars—reveal different evolutionary paths.

From Dust to Life

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Chambers ◽  
Jacqueline Mitton
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Extrasolar Planets ◽  
Planetary Systems ◽  
History Of Astronomy ◽  
Human Origins ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Emergence Of Life

The birth and evolution of our solar system is a tantalizing mystery that may one day provide answers to the question of human origins. This book tells the remarkable story of how the celestial objects that make up the solar system arose from common beginnings billions of years ago, and how scientists and philosophers have sought to unravel this mystery down through the centuries, piecing together the clues that enabled them to deduce the solar system's layout, its age, and the most likely way it formed. Drawing on the history of astronomy and the latest findings in astrophysics and the planetary sciences, the book offers the most up-to-date and authoritative treatment of the subject available. It examines how the evolving universe set the stage for the appearance of our Sun, and how the nebulous cloud of gas and dust that accompanied the young Sun eventually became the planets, comets, moons, and asteroids that exist today. It explores how each of the planets acquired its unique characteristics, why some are rocky and others gaseous, and why one planet in particular—our Earth—provided an almost perfect haven for the emergence of life. The book takes readers to the very frontiers of modern research, engaging with the latest controversies and debates. It reveals how ongoing discoveries of far-distant extrasolar planets and planetary systems are transforming our understanding of our own solar system's astonishing history and its possible fate.

Assembling aliens to explore the Solar System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catarina Leote ◽  
Sérgio Pereira ◽  
João Retrê ◽  
Pedro Machado ◽  
Gabriella Gilli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Planetary Science ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Board Game ◽  
Whole Process ◽  
Informal Educators ◽  
Low Exposure ◽  
Challenging Situation

<p><strong>Assembling aliens to explore the Solar System</strong></p> <p>After analysing the school curricula until 7th grade (13 years old), we concluded that, at least in Portugal, there is a limited coverage of astronomy subjects. This situation is also often accompanied by limited training of primary and medium school teachers and limited availability of resources in their mother tongues, as language can also be a barrier for the use of existing resources. In addition, some astronomy concepts require a level of abstract thinking that might be discouraging for some children. The end result is that some children will have a low interest in astronomy, not only because of their personal preferences but as a consequence of low exposure to the subject or a negative perception towards it. To address this situation, the Science Communication Group of Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço (IA) developed a board game about the Solar System, aimed at children from 6 to 12 years old, and adapted to both formal and informal educational contexts. This project, “Help your Alien – A Solar System Game”, was funded in 2019 by the Europlanet Society through its Public Engagement Funding Scheme.</p> <p><strong>Why a board game?</strong></p> <p>By opting for a board game instead of a digital platform, we made the conscious decision of valuing the power of storytelling and social interaction as engaging and focus-promoting learning strategies, unlike the information and stimuli overload sometimes present in digital environments. Another choice made to make the game as appealing and relatable to our target public as possible was to start with a more familiar perspective, biology, as children of this age group will certainly be familiar with “animals” and their characteristics. We made a leap forward towards astrobiology, and created imaginary aliens somehow adapted to their planets and moons. While trying to assemble these imaginary creatures, in a 3-piece puzzle, the game players have to gather information about different objects of the Solar System and discover the home planet of their assembled aliens.  Another reason for creating a board game was the possibility of reaching different publics, in particular those perhaps not immediately interested in astronomy. With “ET – A Solar System Adventure”, we hope to engage children but also their families (parents, grandparents, siblings…), just for the sake of playing, while exposing them to knowledge about the Solar System.</p> <p><strong>Development of the game</strong></p> <p>The game was developed in a collaborative creative process by members of the Science Communication Group and researchers in Planetary Sciences of the IA, combining knowledge in science communication and different publics with scientific knowledge. Even though the game mechanics was inspired in already existing and well-tested games, the whole process of creating this game involved many challenges, from defining the level of complexity while keeping the game engaging, to the adventure of “creating” aliens somehow physiologically adapted to different planets and moons of the Solar System. Mistakes were made and the team had to adapt to the unexpected challenging situation of a pandemic. This resulted in many lessons learned that we hope to share with the community. The game is now at its final stages of production, with the prototype being converted into a polished version with professional illustration and design. A “Print and Play” version in Portuguese and English will soon be made available online on our website. Physical copies will also be produced depending on funding.</p> <p>In our presentation, we will present our game, as well as the premises and goals behind it, its development process, the challenges found along the way, the lessons learned and some strategies to cope with the “new normality” imposed by Covid-19, while advancing the project. We hope the presentation of “ET – A Solar System Adventure” in the EPSC2021 will help to promote this tool for planetary science education among formal and informal educators and to find international collaborations for the translation and local promotion of the game, as well as additional funding for the production of physical copies in different languages.</p>

Atmospheric dynamics of tidally synchronized extrasolar planets

2008 ◽  
Vol 366 (1884) ◽  
pp. 4477-4488 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Y.-K Cho
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Flow Pattern ◽  
Extrasolar Planets ◽  
Atmospheric Dynamics ◽  
Reliable Interpretation ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Theoretical Issues

Tidally synchronized planets present a new opportunity for enriching our understanding of atmospheric dynamics on planets. Subject to an unusual forcing arrangement (steady irradiation on the same side of the planet throughout its orbit), the dynamics on these planets may be unlike that on any of the Solar System planets. Characterizing the flow pattern and temperature distribution on the extrasolar planets is necessary for reliable interpretation of data currently being collected, as well as for guiding future observations. In this paper, several fundamental concepts from atmospheric dynamics, likely to be central for characterization, are discussed. Theoretical issues that need to be addressed in the near future are also highlighted.

Boron Behavior During the Evolution of the Early Solar System: The First 180 Million Years

Elements ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 231-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles K. Shearer ◽  
Steven B. Simon
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Solar Nebula ◽  
Nuclear Reactions ◽  
Terrestrial Planets ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Planetary Formation ◽  
Light Elements ◽  
Early Solar System ◽  
Spallation Reactions ◽  
Magma Oceans

The behavior of boron during the early evolution of the Solar System provides the foundation for how boron reservoirs become established in terrestrial planets. The abundance of boron in the Sun is depleted relative to adjacent light elements, a result of thermal nuclear reactions that destroy boron atoms. Extant boron was primarily generated by spallation reactions. In the initial materials condensing from the solar nebula, boron was predominantly incorporated into plagioclase. Boron abundances in the terrestrial planets exhibit variability, as illustrated by B/Be. During planetary formation and differentiation, boron is redistributed by fluids at low temperature and during crystallization of magma oceans at high temperature.

scholarly journals The Potential for Archaeology Within and Beyond the Habitable Zones (HZ) of the Milky Way

2004 ◽  
Vol 213 ◽  
pp. 505-510
Author(s):  
John B. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Extrasolar Planets ◽  
Habitable Zone ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Habitable Zones ◽  
Remote Sensing Techniques ◽  
Main Region

As archaeology is established on Earth and we are actively exploring the Solar System and beyond, there is the potential to develop a number of forms of exo-archaeology. The archaeology of the things intelligent species do in theory could be practised anywhere, provided one can detect the evidence. Sites are being created by us elsewhere within our star's habitable zone (HZ), namely on the Moon and Mars, and at least molecular traces of human-created probes are being left beyond the HZ (Venus, Jupiter etc.). The successful detection of extrasolar planets and the possible identification of HZs round other stars raise the possibility for the development of extrasolar archaeology, at least initially by remote sensing techniques. Within the Milky Way the main region to investigate is the galactic habitable zone (GHZ), though there could be archaeological traces of technological behaviours beyond it.

scholarly journals PlanetCARMA: A New Framework for Studying the Microphysics of Planetary Atmospheres

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1064
Author(s):  
Erika Barth
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Extrasolar Planets ◽  
Radiative Transfer Model ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
Planetary Body ◽  
Solar System Bodies ◽  
Fortran 90 ◽  
Primary Advantage ◽  
New Framework ◽  
Modular Format

The Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA) has been updated to apply to atmospheres of the Solar System outside of Earth. CARMA, as its name suggests, is a coupled aerosol microphysics and radiative transfer model and includes the processes of nucleation, condensation, evaporation, coagulation, and vertical transport. Previous model versions have been applied separately to the atmospheres of Solar System bodies and extrasolar planets. The primary advantage to PlanetCARMA is that the core physics routines each reside in their own self-contained modules and can be turned on/off as desired while a separate planet module supplies all the necessary parameters to apply the model run to a particular planet (or planetary body). So a single codebase is used for all planetary studies. PlanetCARMA has also been updated to Fortran 90 modular format. Examples of outer solar system atmosphere applications are shown.

scholarly journals Concerns of Organic Contamination for Sample Return Space Missions

2020 ◽  
Vol 216 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Queenie Hoi Shan Chan ◽  
Rhonda Stroud ◽  
Zita Martins ◽  
Hikaru Yabuta
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Organic Analysis ◽  
Terrestrial Organic Matter ◽  
Organic Contamination ◽  
Sample Return ◽  
Contamination Control ◽  
Solar System Exploration

Abstract Analysis of organic matter has been one of the major motivations behind solar system exploration missions. It addresses questions related to the organic inventory of our solar system and its implication for the origin of life on Earth. Sample return missions aim at returning scientifically valuable samples from target celestial bodies to Earth. By analysing the samples with the use of state-of-the-art analytical techniques in laboratories here on Earth, researchers can address extremely complicated aspects of extra-terrestrial organic matter. This level of detailed sample characterisation provides the range and depth in organic analysis that are restricted in spacecraft-based exploration missions, due to the limitations of the on-board in-situ instrumentation capabilities. So far, there are four completed and in-process sample return missions with an explicit mandate to collect organic matter: Stardust and OSIRIS-REx missions of NASA, and Hayabusa and Hayabusa2 missions of JAXA. Regardless of the target body, all sample return missions dedicate to minimise terrestrial organic contamination of the returned samples, by applying various degrees or strategies of organic contamination mitigation methods. Despite the dedicated efforts in the design and execution of contamination control, it is impossible to completely eliminate sources of organic contamination. This paper aims at providing an overview of the successes and lessons learned with regards to the identification of indigenous organic matter of the returned samples vs terrestrial contamination.

scholarly journals On the Origins of Eccentric Close-in Planets

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S253) ◽  
pp. 189-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soko Matsumura ◽  
Genya Takeda ◽  
Fred A. Rasio
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Quality Factor ◽  
Extrasolar Planets ◽  
External Perturbation ◽  
Central Star ◽  
Circular Orbits ◽  
Secular Perturbation ◽  
New Class ◽  
Stellar Ages ◽  
Host Stars

AbstractStrong tidal interaction with the central star can circularize the orbits of close-in planets. With the standard tidal quality factorQof our solar system, estimated circularization timescales for close-in extrasolar planets are typically shorter than the age of the host stars. While most extrasolar planets with orbital radiia≲ 0.1 AU indeed have circular orbits, some close-in planets with substantial orbital eccentricities have recently been discovered. This new class of eccentric close-in planets implies that either their tidalQfactor is considerably higher, or circularization is prevented by an external perturbation. Here we constrain the tidalQfactor for transiting extrasolar planets by comparing their circularization times with accurately determined stellar ages. Using estimated secular perturbation timescales, we also provide constraints on the properties of hypothetical second planets exterior to the known eccentric close-in planets.

Accretion Processes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Morbidelli
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Total Mass ◽  
Extrasolar Planets ◽  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Oort Cloud ◽  
Planetary Science ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Giant Planets ◽  
Irregular Satellites ◽  
Accretion Process

In planetary science, accretion is the process in which solids agglomerate to form larger and larger objects, and eventually planets are produced. The initial conditions are a disc of gas and microscopic solid particles, with a total mass of about 1% of the gas mass. These discs are routinely detected around young stars and are now imaged with the new generation of instruments. Accretion has to be effective and fast. Effective, because the original total mass in solids in the solar protoplanetary disk was probably of the order of ~300 Earth masses, and the mass incorporated into the planets is ~100 Earth masses. Fast, because the cores of the giant planets had to grow to tens of Earth masses to capture massive doses of hydrogen and helium from the disc before the dispersal of the latter, in a few millions of years. The surveys for extrasolar planets have shown that most stars have planets around them. Accretion is therefore not an oddity of the solar system. However, the final planetary systems are very different from each other, and typically very different from the solar system. Observations have shown that more than 50% of the stars have planets that don’t have analogues in the solar system. Therefore the solar system is not the typical specimen. Models of planet accretion have to explain not only how planets form, but also why the outcomes of the accretion history can be so diverse. There is probably not one accretion process but several, depending on the scale at which accretion operates. A first process is the sticking of microscopic dust into larger grains and pebbles. A second process is the formation of an intermediate class of objects called planetesimals. There are still planetesimals left in the solar system. They are the asteroids orbiting between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, the trans-Neptunian objects in the distant system, and other objects trapped along the orbits of the planets (Trojans) or around the giant planets themselves (irregular satellites). The Oort cloud, source of the long period comets, is also made of planetesimals ejected from the region of formation of the giant planets. A third accretion process has to lead from planetesimals to planets. Actually, several processes can be involved in this step, from collisional coagulation among planetesimals to the accretion of small particles under the effect of gas drag, to giant impacts between protoplanets. Adopting a historical perspective of all these processes provides details of the classic processes investigated in the past decades to those unveiled in the last years. The quest for planet formation is ongoing. Open issues remain, and exciting future developments are expected.

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