Space Rocks!

How the Building Blocks of the Solar System Reveal its History

with Dr Laura Buchanan

Summary

Arrokoth, TNO photographed by the New Horizons spacecraft after it visited Pluto

Understanding the origin of our solar system involves studying its early formation and evolution. Unfortunately, we cannot look back through time to witness the actual formation. Instead, we observe its modern-day features to infer the conditions of its birth. For example, the number of craters on the moon reveals the history of impacts, while the compositions of asteroids inform us about their thermal histories. In the outer solar system, the orbits and colours of icy rocks, specifically Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), help trace the history and migration patterns of the giant planets.

In this talk, I will delve into the processes that shaped our solar system and explore the formation and dynamics of planets. We'll discuss the significance of studying small bodies like asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets, and how data from missions like Rosetta, and New Horizons has enriched our understanding. By combining observational data with dynamical models, we can reconstruct the early layout of the Kuiper Belt and understand the conditions that shaped the giant planets. This approach offers a glimpse into a time we cannot directly observe, deepening our understanding of our cosmic origins and the dynamic processes that have shaped our solar system.

bio

Laura Buchanan is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Victoria. She studies small bodies in the outer solar system known as Trans-Neptunian Objects.