Meteorites and the early solar system

Why do scientists study meteorites?

Meteorite - Solar System, Formation, Rocks: As mentioned above, scientists study meteorites for insights into the events that took place surrounding the birth and early evolution of the solar system. They know from astronomical observations that all stars form by gravitational collapse of dense regions in interstellar molecular clouds.

What did primitive meteorites tell us about the early Solar System?

The composition, chemistry, and mineralogy of primitive meteorites collectively provide evidence for a wide variety of chemical and physical processes. This book synthesizes our current understanding of the early solar system, summarizing information about processes that occurred before its formation.

How do meteorites relate to evolutionary history?

We relate meteorites, and components separated from them, to stages of solar system evolutionary history, from condensation of primordial solids through aggregation, alteration, differentiation, and brecciation. We also consider the presolar history of grains from interstellar and circumstellar environments.

Are meteorites a pristine record of early Solar System processes?

Meteorites are frequently not the pristine record of early solar system processes that we would like them to be.

What is meteorites & the early Solar System II?

Two hundred years later, Meteorites and the Early Solar System II provides a bicentennial benchmark for the field with the goal of serving as the foundation for ongoing advancement. Our... Dante S. Lauretta and Harry Y. McSween <suffix>Jr.</suffix>

What are the ages of meteorite components in the Solar System?

Nevertheless, in early Solar System chronology, ages are generally given as the time elapsed since formation of ‘normal’ CAIs dated at 4,567.2 ± 0.2 Myr. The Al–Mg system provides very precise relative isochron ages for meteorite components such as CAIs 54, 55 and chondrules 5, 36, 38.