Isotopic compositions of cometary matter returned by Stardust

Science. 2006 Dec 15;314(5806):1724-8. doi: 10.1126/science.1135992.

Abstract

Hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopic compositions are heterogeneous among comet 81P/Wild 2 particle fragments; however, extreme isotopic anomalies are rare, indicating that the comet is not a pristine aggregate of presolar materials. Nonterrestrial nitrogen and neon isotope ratios suggest that indigenous organic matter and highly volatile materials were successfully collected. Except for a single (17)O-enriched circumstellar stardust grain, silicate and oxide minerals have oxygen isotopic compositions consistent with solar system origin. One refractory grain is (16)O-enriched, like refractory inclusions in meteorites, suggesting that Wild 2 contains material formed at high temperature in the inner solar system and transported to the Kuiper belt before comet accretion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Isotopes / analysis*
  • Deuterium / analysis*
  • Hydrogen / analysis
  • Isotopes / analysis*
  • Meteoroids*
  • Neon / analysis
  • Nitrogen Isotopes / analysis*
  • Noble Gases / analysis
  • Oxygen Isotopes / analysis*
  • Spacecraft

Substances

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Isotopes
  • Nitrogen Isotopes
  • Noble Gases
  • Oxygen Isotopes
  • Neon
  • Hydrogen
  • Deuterium