 |
 
XXVII GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AUGUST 03 - 14, 2009 -
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Water on Planets
James F. Bell III www.cornell.edu
Astronomy Department, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY, USA
August 6, 2009 - 18:00 hr
|
H2O is a ubiquitous molecule in the Cosmos, and of course
is a critical ingredient in assessing the habitability of worlds and
the biochemistry of any life forms on those worlds. As such, the
origin, distribution, and evolution of water in our solar system, in
other solar systems, and in other interstellar and galactic reservoirs
is the topic of intense research and debate. Models of solar system
formation can be used to predict the heliocentric distance beyond
which primordial water could have condensed from the solar nebula as
ice (the so-called "snow line") and thus have been available for
accretion into planetesimals. However, such models do not factor in
possible subsequent mixing of that water throughout the solar system
via planetary migration or other complex interactions that can lead
to impacts between icy and rocky bodies. Thus, simple explanations
for the origin and inventory of water on particular planets compete
for viability with chaotic, potentially ad hoc explanations. This
talk will review the accumulated evidence, from telescopic and space
mission observations, for the distribution of water on planets,
satellites, asteroids, and comets in our solar system. While there
is substantial data available on the distribution and abundance of
water on planetary bodies from direct observations as well as
laboratory and meteorite studies, significant mysteries remain unsolved.
Where did Earth's water come from? How much water did/does Mars have?
What happened to Venus' water? Is there ice in unlikely places like
the poles of the Moon and Mercury and oceans in unlikely places like
the interiors of outer solar system satellites? These kinds of
mysteries continue to guide our search for water in our solar system,
and beyond.
|
|
National Organizing Committee - NOC
____________________________________________
www.astronomy2009.com.br
|
|