Organic material: Asteroids, meteorites, and planetary satellites

Abstract

Telescopic observations in in situ spacecraft investigations over the last two decades have shown that many planetary satellites, asteroids, and comets have surfaces containing very dark material that is either neutral (black) or red in color. Although comets are not the focus of this paper, the possible relationship of comets to asteroids, meteorites, and interplanetary dust is briefly discussed in the context of their dark-matter component. The following topics are discussed with respect to their organic content: carbonaceous chondrites; asteroids; low-albedo planetary satellites; and Pluto, Charon, and Triton. Laboratory studies and a summary are also presented.