ausblenden:
Schlagwörter:
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MPIS_GROUPS:
Planets and Comets
Zusammenfassung:
All contemporary objects of our Solar System emerged
from a solar nebula which existed 4.5 billion years ago, and
whose dynamical and thermo-chemical evolution led to the
condensation of solids, then to the emergence of different
types of planetesimals, and finally to the accretion of solid
cores and to the formation of our planets. Space explo-
ration makes it possible today to visit the different classes
of solar system objects and retrieve key information which
can help us to trace back the evolutionary path of the solar
system, from its origins in the Solar Nebula to its present
configuration and the likely development of habitats in
planetary objects. We propose three un-ordered priorities
for the space programme in this perspective: 1 - access to
remaining pristine material in the solar system (interplan-
etary dust and small bodies); 2 - in-depth exploration of
the systems of giant planets; 3 - in-situ analysis of some of
the physical mechanisms relevant to planetary formation
in the contemporary rings and plasma environments of
giant planets. This research subject, which strongly con-
nects our solar system and its objects to exoplanets and
other planetary systems, is a very promising contribution
to the progressive build-up of a synthetic view of their
formation and evolution scenarios. It is a central element
in the build-up of a “ Cosmic Vision ” of our own solar
system.
