Search for sulfates on the surface of Ceres

The formation of hydrated salts is an expected consequence of aqueous alteration of Main Belt objects, particularly for large, volatile‐rich protoplanets like Ceres. Sulfates, present on water‐bearing planetary bodies (e.g., Earth, Mars, and carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies) across the inner solar system, may contribute to Ceres’ UV and IR spectral signature along with phyllosilicates and carbonates. We investigate the presence and stability of hydrated sulfates under Ceres’ cryogenic, low‐pressure environment and the consequent spectral effects, using UV–Vis–IR reflectance spectroscopy. H₂O loss begins instantaneously with vacuum exposure, measured by the attenuation of spectral water absorption bands, and a phase transition from crystalline to amorphous is observed for MgSO₄·6H₂O by X‐ray powder diffraction. Long‐term (>40 h), continuous exposure of MgSO₄·nH₂O (n = 0, 6, 7) to low pressure (10^?3–10^?6 Torr) causes material decomposition and strong UV absorption below 0.5 μm. Our measurements suggest that MgSO₄·6H₂O grains (45–83 μm) dehydrate to 2% of the original 1.9 μm water band area over ~0.3 Ma at 200 K on Ceres and after ~42 Ma for 147 K. These rates, inferred from an Avrami dehydration model, preclude MgSO₄·6H₂O as a component of Ceres’ surface, although anhydrous and minimally hydrated sulfates may be present. A comparison between Ceres emissivity spectra and laboratory reflectance measurements over the infrared range (5–17 μm) suggests sulfates cannot be excluded from Ceres’ mineralogy.     

Carbonaceous chondrites as analogs for the composition and alteration of Ceres

The mineralogy and geochemistry of Ceres, as constrained by Dawn's instruments, are broadly consistent with a carbonaceous chondrite (CM/CI) bulk composition. Differences explainable by Ceres’s more advanced alteration include the formation of Mg‐rich serpentine and ammoniated clay; a greater proportion of carbonate and lesser organic matter; amounts of magnetite, sulfide, and carbon that could act as spectral darkening agents; and partial fractionation of water ice and silicates in the interior and regolith. Ceres is not spectrally unique, but is similar to a few other C‐class asteroids, which may also have suffered extensive alteration. All these bodies are among the largest carbonaceous chondrite asteroids, and they orbit in the same part of the Main Belt. Thus, the degree of alteration is apparently related to the size of the body. Although the ammonia now incorporated into clay likely condensed in the outer nebula, we cannot presently determine whether Ceres itself formed in the outer solar system and migrated inward or was assembled within the Main Belt, along with other carbonaceous chondrite bodies.     

Ceres's global and localized mineralogical composition determined by Dawn's Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (VIR)

The Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (VIR) instrument on the Dawn mission observed Ceres’s surface at different spatial resolutions, revealing a nearly uniform global distribution of surface mineralogy. Clearly, Ceres experienced extensive water‐related processes and chemical differentiation. The surface is mainly composed of a dark component (carbon, magnetite?), Mg‐phyllosilicates, ammoniated clays, carbonates, and salts. The observed species suggest endogenous, global‐scale aqueous alteration. While mostly uniform at regional scale, Ceres’s surface shows small localized areas with different species and/or variations in abundances. Few local exposures of water ice are seen, especially at higher latitudes. Sodium carbonates have been identified in several areas on the surface, notably in Occator bright faculae. Organic matter has also been discovered in several places, most conspicuously in a large area close to the Ernutet crater. The observed mineralogies, with the presence of ammoniated species and sodium salts, have a strong resemblance to materials found on other bodies of the outer solar system, such as Enceladus. This poses some questions about the original material from which Ceres accreted, suggesting a colder environment for such material with respect to Ceres’s present position.     

Cassini spectra and photometry 0.25-5.1 μm of the small inner satellites of Saturn

The nominal tour of the Cassini mission enabled the first spectra and solar phase curves of the small inner satellites of Saturn. We present spectra from the Visual Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) and the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) that span the 0.25-5.1 μm spectral range. The composition of Atlas, Pandora, Janus, Epimetheus, Calypso, and Telesto is primarily water ice, with a small amount (∼5%) of contaminant, which most likely consists of hydrocarbons. The optical properties of the “shepherd” satellites and the coorbitals are tied to the A-ring, while those of the Tethys Lagrangians are tied to the E-ring of Saturn. The color of the satellites becomes progressively bluer with distance from Saturn, presumably from the increased influence of the E-ring; Telesto is as blue as Enceladus. Janus and Epimetheus have very similar spectra, although the latter appears to have a thicker coating of ring material. For at least four of the satellites, we find evidence for the spectral line at 0.68 μm that Vilas et al. [Vilas, F., Larsen, S.M., Stockstill, K.R., Gaffley, M.J., 1996. Icarus 124, 262-267] attributed to hydrated iron minerals on Iapetus and Hyperion. However, it is difficult to produce a spectral mixing model that includes this component. We find no evidence for CO₂ on any of the small satellites. There was a sufficient excursion in solar phase angle to create solar phase curves for Janus and Telesto. They bear a close similarity to the solar phase curves of the medium-sized inner icy satellites. Preliminary spectral modeling suggests that the contaminant on these bodies is not the same as the exogenously placed low-albedo material on Iapetus, but is rather a native material. The lack of CO₂ on the small inner satellites also suggests that their low-albedo material is distinct from that on Iapetus, Phoebe, and Hyperion.     

The UV continuum 1450–2100 Å and the problem of the solar temperature minimum

This study is based on a set of ten solar rocket spectra well exposed for photometry photographed on July 27, 1966 by Purcell, Snider, and Tousey.The photometry of the far UV continuum illustrates the transition of the solar temperature minimum at 1700 Å in the solar spectrum - (a) the continuum intensity decreases by 30–50% between 1700 Å and the¹ D limit of silicon at 1682 Å, and (b) the equivalent brightness temperature shows minimum values throughout the spectral range 1540–1682 Å, which average just under 4700 ± 100K.The minimum UV brightness temperature is 300K higher than the far infrared measurement of the solar minimum temperature, and possible reasons for this are discussed.Brightness temperatures measured in prominent CO band heads and in the aluminum 1937 Å auto-ionization line also are given.     

Mineralogy and temperature of crater Haulani on Ceres

We investigate the region of crater Haulani on Ceres with an emphasis on mineralogy as inferred from data obtained by Dawn's Visible InfraRed mapping spectrometer (VIR), combined with multispectral image products from the Dawn Framing Camera (FC) so as to enable a clear correlation with specific geologic features. Haulani, which is one of the youngest craters on Ceres, exhibits a peculiar “blue” visible to near‐infrared spectral slope, and has distinct color properties as seen in multispectral composite images. In this paper, we investigate a number of spectral indices: reflectance; spectral slopes; abundance of Mg‐bearing and NH₄‐bearing phyllosilicates; nature and abundance of carbonates, which are diagnostic of the overall crater mineralogy; plus a temperature map that highlights the major thermal anomaly found on Ceres. In addition, for the first time we quantify the abundances of several spectral endmembers by using VIR data obtained at the highest pixel resolution (~0.1 km). The overall picture we get from all these evidences, in particular the abundance of Na‐ and hydrous Na‐carbonates at specific locations, confirms the young age of Haulani from a mineralogical viewpoint, and suggests that the dehydration of Na‐carbonates in the anhydrous form Na₂CO₃ may be still ongoing.     

Populating the asteroid belt from two parent source regions due to the migration of giant planets—“The Grand Tack”

Abstract– The asteroid belt is found today in a dramatically different state than that immediately following its formation. It is estimated that it has been depleted in total mass by a factor of at least 1000 since its formation, and that the asteroids’ orbits evolved from having near‐zero eccentricity and inclination to the complex distributions we find today. The asteroid belt also hosts a wide range of compositions, with the inner regions dominated by S‐type and other water‐poor asteroids and the outer regions dominated by C‐type and other primitive asteroids. We discuss a model of early inner solar system evolution whereby the gas‐driven migration of Jupiter and Saturn brings them inwards to 1.5 AU, truncating the disk of planetesimals in the terrestrial planet region, before migrating outwards toward their current locations. This model, informally titled “The Grand Tack,” examines the planetary dynamics of the solar system bodies during the final million years of the gaseous solar nebula lifetime—a few million years (Myr) after the formation of the first solids, but 20–80 Myr before the final accretion of Earth, and approximately 400–600 Myr before the Late Heavy Bombardment of the inner solar system. The Grand Tack attempts to solve some outstanding problems for terrestrial planet formation, by reproducing the size of Mars, but also has important implications for the asteroid population. The migration of Jupiter causes a very early depletion of the asteroid belt region, and this region is then repopulated from two distinct source regions, one inside the formation region of Jupiter and one between and beyond the giant planets. The scattered material reforms the asteroid belt, producing a population the appropriate mass, orbits, and with overlapping distributions of material from each parent source region.     

On the disk wind mass loss rates in QSOs

We derive here a relatively simple expression for the total wind mass loss rates in QSOs within the accretion disk wind scenario. We show that the simple expression derived here for QSO disk wind mass loss rate is in a very good agreement with the more “exact” values obtained through significantly more complex and detailed numerically intensive 2.5D time-dependent simulations. Additionally we show that for typical QSO parameters, the disk itself will be emitting mostly in the UV/optical spectrum, in turn implying that the X-ray emission from QSOs likely is produced through some physical mechanism acting at radii smaller than the inner disk radius (for a standard accretion disk, half of the initially gravitational potential energy of the accreting disk mass is emitted directly by the disk, while the other half “falls” closer towards the black hole than the inner disk radius). We also show that for typical QSO parameters, the disk itself is dominated by continuum radiation pressure (rather than thermal pressure), resulting in a “flat disk” (except for the innermost disk regions).     

Spectral properties and geologic processes on Eros from combined NEAR NIS and MSI data sets

Abstract— From April 24 to May 14, 2000, the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) Shoemaker mission's near infrared spectrometer (NIS) obtained its highest resolution data of 433 Eros. High signal‐to‐noise ratio NIS reflectance spectra cover a wavelength range of 800–2400 nm, with footprint sizes from 213 times 427 m to 394 times 788 m. This paper describes improvement in instrument calibration by remediation of internally scattered light; derivation of a “pseudo channel” for NIS at 754 nm using Multispectral Imager (MSI) Eros approach maps at 951 and 754 nm; synthesis of a 3127‐spectrum high‐resolution data set with the improved calibration and expanded wavelength coverage; and investigation of global and localized spectral variation with respect to mineralogy, composition, and space weathering of Eros, comparing the findings with previous analyses. Scattered light removal reduces the “red” slope of Eros spectra, though not to the level seen by telescopic observations. The pseudo channel completes sampling of Eros' 1 micron (Band I) absorption feature, enabling direct comparison of NIS data with other asteroid and meteorite spectra without additional scaling or correction. Following scattered light removal and wavelength range extension, the spectral parameters of average Eros plot well inside the S(IV) field of Gaffey et al. (1993) and are consistent with the L6 chondrite meteorite fields of Gaffey and Gilbert (1998). Although Eros shows no evidence of mineralogical heterogeneity, modest spectral variations correlate with morphologically and geographically distinct areas of the asteroid. Eros bright‐to‐dark spectral ratios are largely consistent with laboratory “space weathering” experiment results and modeling of space weathering effects. Eros brightness variation unaccompanied by significant spectral variation departs from “lunar‐type”—where band depths, slopes, and albedoes all correlate—and “Ida‐type”—where significant spectral variation is unaccompanied by corresponding brightness variation. The brightest areas on Eros—steep crater walls—have lesser spectral slope and deeper Band I, consistent with exposure of “fresher,” less space weathered materials. Bright crater slope materials have opx/(opx + olv) of 0.24–0.29 and may be more representative of the subsurface mineralogy than “average” Eros, which is probably affected by space weathering. The floors of the large craters Psyche and Himeros have lower albedo and contain the most degraded or altered looking materials. NIS spectra retain a “red” spectral slope at greater than 2 microns. The recalibrated and expanded NIS spectra show better agreements with mixing models based on space weathering of chondritic mixtures.     

The Uranian satellites: Surface compositions and opposition brightness surges

High-precision spectrophotometry at 5% resolution has been obtained for the Uranian satellites Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. These spectra cover the wavelength region 1.43–2.57 μm and represent a substantial improvement in precision or wavelength coverage over previous studies. The presence of a spectrally dominant water-ice component in the surface of Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon is confirmed. The 1.5- and 2.0-μm water absorption band depths and the continuum reflectance (as defined by the reflectance at 1.78 and 2.25 μm) indicate significant differences among the surface compositional properties of the four satellites. Comparisons of the new spectra to those of other solar system bodies, and to laboratory spectra of water ice of various degrees of purity, indicate that these satellites have a significant non-water-ice component on/in their surfaces. The lack of spectral absorptions at 5% resolution attributable to anything other than water ice suggests that the non-water-ice component is a roughly neutral reflector in the 1.5- to 2.5- μm region. The nature of the non-water-ice component cannot be uniquely determined from these data, but it is relatively dark and has spectral similarities to substances such as carbon black, the dark substance covering one face of Iapetus, or other neutral-color, low-reflectance materials. Finally, preliminary measurements of the near-infrared opposition brightness surges of Ariel, Titania, and Oberon show them to be among the largest in the solar system.     

Ceres’s internal evolution: The view after Dawn

As the Dawn mission approaches a successful conclusion at Ceres, it seems time to assess how its findings have sharpened the picture of Ceres’s evolution. Before Dawn, we inferred from Ceres's bulk density of about 2100 kg m^?3 that Ceres contained about 25% water by mass. Thermodynamic modeling of the interior evolution suggested that the original accreted ice had to melt even if only long‐lived radionuclides were present, leading to the aqueous alteration of the original chondritic silicates and differentiation of the altered silicates from any remaining water, consistent with telescopic detection of aqueously altered silicates (serpentine and clay minerals) on Ceres’s surface. Earth‐based observations of Ceres’s shape were not accurate enough to constrain the extent of differentiation of its interior. Dawn's results confirm these early findings and extend them dramatically to reveal an evolved and active small planet, probably even today, due to water/ice‐driven processes. A nearly uniform global distribution of surface mineralogy, which includes Mg‐serpentines, ammoniated clays, and salts including carbonates, suggests extensive, endogenous, planet‐wide aqueous alteration. Local exceptions show salt‐rich deposits of varied composition, which suggests subsurface heterogeneities. Concentration of Fe below carbonaceous chondrite levels suggests chemical fractionation, leading to Ceres being chemically differentiated. The high spatial uniformity of element abundance measurements of equatorial regolith also indicates that some ice‐rock fractionation occurred on a global scale. Even some local exposures of ice are seen, especially in higher latitudes and in low‐illumination regions that must be very young, as surface water ice is unstable on time scales of 1–1000 years under Ceres’s surface temperatures. Subsurface ice is also likely in abundance at higher latitudes in at least the upper few meters of the surface, as suggested by near‐surface H‐rich polar deposits. Observations of bright ice deposits in permanently shadowed regions suggest cold‐trapping of migrating H₂O across the surface. Gravity field measurements indicate a concentration of mass toward the center and near isostatic equilibrium, consistent with at least some mass differentiation driven by water‐related processes. Abundant small and midsize craters but relaxed or missing large craters suggest a stiff upper crust with water abundance lower than 30 vol%. A sharp decrease in viscosity at ~40 km depth suggests the occurrence of a small fraction of liquid, consistent with earlier thermophysical models. Surface cryogenic features, such as flows, extrusions, and domes, some geologically very recent, are evidence of active water/ice‐driven subsurface processes. Ceres experienced extensive water‐related processes and at least some mass and chemical fractionation and is probably active today, consistent with previous moderate heating thermodynamic models. Clearly, Ceres is a “wet,” evolved planet at the edge of the inner solar system, as described in this special issue. We conclude with a list of questions suggested by the Dawn findings; they especially regard the state and fate of water and its role in driving past and possibly current chemical and physical activity in this dwarf planet.     

A refractory inclusion returned by Stardust from comet 81P/Wild 2

Abstract— Among the samples returned from comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust spacecraft is a suite of particles from one impact track (Track 25) that are Ca‐, Al‐rich and FeO‐free. We studied three particles from this track that range in size from 5.3 × 3.2 μ to 15 × 10 μ. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy show that they consist of very fine‐grained (typically from ?0.5 to ?2 μ) Al‐rich, Ti‐bearing and Ti‐free clinopyroxene, Mg‐Al spinel and anorthite, with trace amounts of fine perovskite, FeNi metal and osbornite (TiN) grains. In addition to these phases, the terminal particle, named “Inti”, also contains melilite. All of these phases, with the exception of osbornite, are common in refractory inclusions and are predicted to condense at high temperature from a gas of solar composition. Osbornite, though very rare, has also been found in meteoritic refractory inclusions, and could have formed in a region of the nebula where carbon became enriched relative to oxygen compared to solar composition. Compositions of Ti‐pyroxene in Inti are similar, but not identical, to those of fassaite from Allende inclusions. Electron energy loss spectroscopy shows that Ti‐rich pyroxene in Inti has Ti³⁺/Ti⁴⁺within the range of typical meteoritic fassaite, consistent with formation under reducing conditions comparable to those of a system of solar composition. Inti is ¹⁶O‐rich, with δ₁₈O?δ¹⁷O?‐40%0, like unaltered phases in refractory inclusions and refractory IDPs. With grain sizes, mineralogy, mineral chemistry, and an oxygen isotopic composition like those of refractory inclusions, we conclude that Inti is a refractory inclusion that formed in the inner solar nebula. Identification of a particle that formed in the inner solar system among the comet samples demonstrates that there was transport of materials from the inner to the outer nebula, probably either in a bipolar outflow or by turbulence.     

Glaciopanspermia: Seeding the terrestrial planets with life?

The question whether life originated on Earth or elsewhere in the solar system has no obvious answer, since Earth was sterilized by the Moon-forming impact and possibly also during the LHB, about 700 Ma after the formation of the solar system. Seeding by lithopanspermia has to be considered. Possible sources of life include Earth itself, Mars, Venus (if it had a more benign climate than today) and icy bodies of the solar system. The first step of lithopanspermia is the ejection of fragments of the surface into space, which requires achieving at least escape velocity. As the velocity distribution of impact ejecta falls off steeply, attention is drawn to bodies with lower escape velocities. Ceres has had, or still has, an ocean more than 100 km deep, with hydrothermal activity at its rocky core. The possible presence of life, its relative closeness to the terrestrial planets and Ceres' low escape velocity of 510 m/s suggest that Ceres could well be a parent body for life in the solar system.Icy impact ejecta - hence glaciopanspermia - from Ceres will be subject to evaporation of volatiles. Spores may be loosened by evaporation and enter the atmospheres of the terrestrial planets as micrometeorites.The seeding of the terrestrial planets from Ceres would result in (1) detection of life in the crustal layers of Ceres; (2) a commonality of Cerean life with Terran and possible Martian and Venusian life and (3) biomarkers of Cerean life, which might be found in the ice at the Moon's poles and on the surface of other main belt asteroids.     

Nanometer‐scale anatomy of entire Stardust tracks

Abstract– We have developed new sample preparation and analytical techniques tailored for entire aerogel tracks of Wild 2 sample analyses both on “carrot” and “bulbous” tracks. We have successfully ultramicrotomed an entire track along its axis while preserving its original shape. This innovation allowed us to examine the distribution of fragments along the entire track from the entrance hole all the way to the terminal particle. The crystalline silicates we measured have Mg‐rich compositions and O isotopic compositions in the range of meteoritic materials, implying that they originated in the inner solar system. The terminal particle of the carrot track is a ¹⁶O‐rich forsteritic grain that may have formed in a similar environment as Ca‐, Al‐rich inclusions and amoeboid olivine aggregates in primitive carbonaceous chondrites. The track also contains submicron‐sized diamond grains likely formed in the solar system. Complex aromatic hydrocarbons distributed along aerogel tracks and in terminal particles. These organics are likely cometary but affected by shock heating.     

Absorption bands near three micrometers in diffuse reflectance spectra of carbonaceous chondrites: Comparison with asteroids

Abstract— We measured infrared diffuse reflectance spectra of several carbonaceous chondrites in order to obtain additional information on the surface materials of their presumed parent bodies, C-type asteroids. The presence and intensity of absorption bands near 3 μm in the reflectance spectra are due to the presence and abundance of hydrates and/or hydroxyl ions. The absorption features of the 3 μm hydration bands of carbonaceous chondrites were compared with those of asteroids 1 Ceres and 2 Pallas. They are commonly classified into separate subtypes, G- and B-type. The spectral shapes of Pallas and Renazzo (CR2 chondrite) around the 3 μm absorption band are an excellent match. This result may suggest that the amount of hydrous minerals in the surface material of Pallas is smaller than that in the CM2 or CI chondrites, and the hydrous minerals on the surface of Pallas may be similar to those found in Renazzo. The spectral features around the 3 μm band of Ceres are different from those of carbonaceous chondrites studied in this paper.     

The solar UV continuum 1440–1680 Å and its center-to-limb variation

The solar UV continuum has been derived from intensity-calibrated observations with the High-Resolution Telescope and Spectrograph - HRTS - on its second rocket flight in 1978. A database has been constructed using the spatially-resolved solar spectrum 1180–1700 Å along a slit extending from near disk center to the solar limb and crossing a sunspot and two active regions. The angular resolution is approximately 1.8″. The data consist of 1772 spectral scans in the full center-to-limb range, including both quiet and active solar regions. The distribution of solar UV intensities has been derived and the center-to-limb variations of the continuum intensities in the quiet Sun are studied. Both quantities show spectral variations, particularly across the Sii continuum edge at 1521 Å. The spectra have been fitted to curves of constant color temperature above and below the Sii edge. The derived center-to-limb variations have been compared to the values of Samain (1979) which are frequently referred to in the literature. A relatively large discrepancy may be explained by the higher spectral and angular resolution of the HRTS as compared to the rocket instrument used by Samain. Comparisons with the VAL III model calculations by Vernazza, Avrett, and Loeser (1981) show discrepancies between the observations and the model predictions, particularly with regard to the sign and amount of the intensity change across the Sii continuum edge. It is noted that some of the results presented, i.e., absolute intensities and brightness temperatures may change, pending confirmation of the SUSIM Spacelab 2 irradiance results (VanHoosieret al., 1988).     

The out of ecliptic distribution of interplanetary dust and its relation to other bodies in the solar system

We discuss the out-of-ecliptic component of the interplanetary dust cloud and its relation to the other small bodies in the solar system. The determination of the mass loss of comets, so far is quite uncertain and doesn't allow a finite study of the mass input to the dust cloud. However it is shown, that the dust particles in the inner solar system, i.e. within the earth orbit are most probable produced from a collisional evolution of larger, meteoroid, fragments of cometary origin. A further component of interstellar dust is especially important in the outer solar system and perhaps for the collisional evolution of the small bodies.     

The Leonard Award Address Presented 1998 July 27, Dublin,Ireland: On the difficulties of making Earth-like planets

Abstract— Here I discuss the series of events that led to the formation and evolution of our planet to examine why the Earth is unique in the solar system. A multitude of factors are involved: These begin with the initial size and angular momentum of the fragment that separated from a molecular cloud; such random factors are crucial in determining whether a planetary system or a double star develops from the resulting nebula. Another requirement is that there must be an adequate concentration of heavy elements to provide the 2% “rock” and “ice” components of the original nebula. An essential step in forming rocky planets in the inner nebula is the loss of gas and depletion of volatile elements, due to early solar activity that is linked to the mass of the central star. The lifetime of the gaseous nebula controls the formation of gas giants. In our system, fine timing was needed to form the gas giant, Jupiter, before the gas in the nebula was depleted. Although Uranus and Neptune eventually formed cores large enough to capture gas, they missed out and ended as ice giants. The early formation of Jupiter is responsible for the existence of the asteroid belt (and our supply of meteorites) and the small size of Mars, whereas the gas giant now acts as a gravitational shield for the terrestrial planets. The Earth and the other inner planets accreted long after the giant planets, from volatile-depleted planetesimals that were probably already differentiated into metallic cores and silicate mantles in a gas-free, inner nebula. The accumulation of the Earth from such planetesimals was essentially a stochastic process, accounting for the differences among the four rocky inner planets—including the startling contrast between those two apparent twins, Earth and Venus. Impact history and accretion of a few more or less planetesimals were apparently crucial. The origin of the Moon by a single massive impact with a body larger than Mars accounts for the obliquity (and its stability) and spin of the Earth, in addition to explaining the angular momentum, orbital characteristics, and unique composition of the Moon. Plate tectonics (unique among the terrestrial planets) led to the development of the continental crust on the Earth, an essential platform for the evolution of Homo sapiens. Random major impacts have punctuated the geological record, accentuating the directionless course of evolution. Thus a massive asteroidal impact terminated the Cretaceous Period, resulted in the extinction of at least 70% of species living at that time, and led to the rise of mammals. This sequence of events that resulted in the formation and evolution of our planet were thus unique within our system. The individual nature of the eight planets is repeated among the 60-odd satellites—no two appear identical. This survey of our solar system raises the question whether the random sequence of events that led to the formation of the Earth are likely to be repeated in detail elsewhere. Preliminary evidence from the “new planets” is not reassuring. The discovery of other planetary systems has removed the previous belief that they would consist of a central star surrounded by an inner zone of rocky planets and an outer zone of giant planets beyond a few astronomical units (AU). Jupiter-sized bodies in close orbits around other stars probably formed in a similar manner to our giant planets at several astronomical units from their parent star and, subsequently, migrated inwards becoming stranded in close but stable orbits as “hot Jupiters”, when the nebula gas was depleted. Such events would prevent the formation of terrestrial-type planets in such systems.     

Ceres’ spectral link to carbonaceous chondrites—Analysis of the dark background materials

Ceres’ surface has commonly been linked with carbonaceous chondrites (CCs) by ground‐based telescopic observations, because of its low albedo, flat to red‐sloped spectra in the visible and near‐infrared (VIS/NIR) wavelength region, and the absence of distinct absorption bands, though no currently known meteorites provide complete spectral matches to Ceres. Spatially resolved data of the Dawn Framing Camera (FC) reveal a generally dark surface covered with bright spots exhibiting reflectance values several times higher than Ceres’ background. In this work, we investigated FC data from High Altitude Mapping Orbit (HAMO) and Ceres eXtended Juling (CXJ) orbit (~140 m/pixel) for global spectral variations. We found that the cerean surface mainly differs by spectral slope over the whole FC wavelength region (0.4–1.0 μm). Areas exhibiting slopes ?1 constitute only ~3% of the cerean surface and mainly occur in the bright material in and around young craters, whereas slopes ≥?10% μm^?1 occur on more than 90% of the cerean surface; the latter being denoted as Ceres’ background material in this work. FC and Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (VIR) spectra of this background material were compared to the suite of CCs spectrally investigated so far regarding their VIS/NIR region and 2.7 μm absorption, as well as their reflectance at 0.653 μm. This resulted in a good match to heated CI Ivuna (heated to 200–300 °C) and a better match for CM1 meteorites, especially Moapa Valley. This possibly indicates that the alteration of CM2 to CM1 took place on Ceres.     

Diversity of the initial rocky planetary building materials at the edge of the solar system

Asteroids and comets are surviving members of the vast planetesimal population that was distributed across the early solar system. They appear to be a diverse set of bodies but we present evidence from comet samples that the body‐to‐body diversity of the initial rocky component mix in planetesimals may have declined with distance from the Sun. Laboratory measurements of the minor element Mn in olivine collected from Comet Wild 2 suggests that the micron‐sized rocky crystalline contents of this comet formed in numerous inner solar system environments. The results are consistent with a scenario where silicates such as olivine form at incandescent temperatures in multiple environments and then mix as they are transported to distant cold regions where silicates could accrete with ice and organics to form comets. Accreting far from silicate formation regions, many ice‐rich planetesimals are likely to have started with similar complex mixtures of diverse rocky components formed in various high‐temperature environments. This contrasts with asteroidal meteorite parent bodies whose silicates retain regional properties that give different chondrite classes their distinctive properties.