There are two major possibilities. One that they formed in the innermost, hotter-most regions of our solar system when the sun and planets were forming, and they were thrown out -- all the way out to the Pluto region of the solar system. The other possibility is they were formed around other stars, in hot regions around other stars. |
These are literally the building blocks of our planetary system. |
These are literally the building blocks of our planetary system. All of the atoms in our bodies - the carbon atoms, the oxygen, the nitrogen, potassium, calcium and so forth - all of those atoms were in stardust grains like those coming out of the comet now before the solar system formed. |
These are literally the building blocks of our planetary system. Personally, I feel a strong attachment to this thing and we should all feel a strong attachment to it because the fact is all the atoms in our bodies -- the carbon atoms and the oxygen, nitrogen, potassium and calcium and so forth -- all those atoms were in stardust rings ... before the solar system formed. |
They were spectacular and surprising. |
This comet formed at very edge of the solar system ... out by pluto ... and spent all its lifetime out there until recently it came into the inner part of the solar system, where we could sample it. |
This is a history project. We are going to the edge of the solar system, collecting the original building blocks of the planets and bringing them back to our labs. |
This is a really exciting mystery story, so stay tuned. |
This is a true treasure. |
This is great, way beyond our expectations. |
This is probably one of the easier parts of the entire mission. |
This is very exciting. It's a mystery story. |
This is what we looked like 4.5 billion years ago. Comets haven't changed since then. |
This is when the real science begins. And I wouldn't be surprised if what we find includes some surprises. |
We are approaching the end of a quite fantastic voyage. |