From dust to dust – a cosmic cycle

Abstract

Prof Alan Harris, DLR Institute of Planetary Research, Berlin will talk on collisions between planetesimals, the precursors of present-day asteroids and comets, and growing planets which forged the Solar System around 4.5 billion years ago. Planetesimals from diverse regions of the planetary disk probably enriched the early Earth and other planets in minerals, water, and organic materials. In later epochs, impacts of asteroids and comets on the Earth may have abruptly altered the course of evolution and paved the way for mankind. However, this natural process has not ceased. In particular, the current population of so-called near-Earth asteroids contains many objects that are considered potentially hazardous. Prof Harris will discuss the origin of our Solar System, the contribution of asteroids and comets to the development of life, and the steps being taken to improve our understanding of the present-day impact hazard and determine what defensive measures are appropriate.