Hydrocarbon Materials of Likely Interstellar Origin from the Paris Meteorite
Abstract
We have examined some grains from the Paris meteorite through infrared and Raman micro-spectroscopy in order to investigate their carbonaceous and mineralogical components. In the mid- as well as far-infrared regions, the raw and global spectra of Paris resemble those of CM meteorites. However, we have obtained rather peculiar infrared spectra for some aromatic-rich micron-sized fragments of Paris displaying a very good match between its organic signatures both in the 3.4 μm and 6 μm regions, and the ones observed from the diffuse interstellar medium infrared sources toward the Galactic center, suggesting that this meteorite may have indeed preserved some organic matter of interstellar origin.
- Publication:
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The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- September 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/756/2/154
- Bibcode:
- 2012ApJ...756..154M
- Keywords:
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- ISM: general;
- meteorites;
- meteors;
- meteoroids