Investigating the Chemical Ingredients that Make Planets
Channel: Northern Virginia Astronomy Club
Date: 2024-03-13

Studying proto-planetary materials helps us understand where our solar system came from and how it may differ from the wide variety of extrasolar planetary systems that form around other stars across our galaxy. Using astrochemistry, we can learn about how extrasolar planets form, what they are made of, and if they could host Earth-like life by investigating the chemical ingredients that are present during the early stages of planet formation. In this talk, I will present the results of our investigations into the major carriers of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen across a range of planet-forming regions using a combination of computational models and telescope observations. By tracking these chemical elements, we estimate how much proto-planetary material is available for planet formation around a typical young star and how long these materials persist. We also compare the chemical composition of proto-planetary materials to the compositions of fully-formed planets to reveal physical and chemical processes occurring during planet formation and evolution.

Dr. Dana Anderson from the Carnegie Institution for Science Earth and Planets Laboratory will join us in person to discuss her research exploring how planet-forming gas and dust that surrounds young stars provides insight into the early development of planets and planetary systems, including the Earth and our own solar system.