Small bodies, big insights: Exploring the role of minor planets in the solar system

Small bodies in our solar system — such as asteroids, comets and minor planets — may be diminutive in size, but their impact on our understanding of planetary science is vast. This seminar delves into the critical roles these celestial objects play in illuminating the history, structure, and ongoing evolution of the solar system. By integrating theoretical models, experimental studies and observational data, we gain insights into the internal structure and surface activity of these bodies, which are shaped by ancient collisional processes and transformed by subsequent thermal and dynamical histories. Their trajectories and potential for Earth impact also underline the urgency of tracking and understanding them to mitigate the hazard they pose for life — a responsibility that now falls on the shoulders of humanity as the guardians of Earth and its diverse ecosystems. Additionally, small bodies are remnants from the solar system’s formation, serving as time capsules that hold critical clues about the early materials and mechanisms that shaped the giant planets. The seminar briefly explores the interconnected narrative of these small bodies, opening a window to both our past and our future.