ProDisCo

What We Study: The Chemical Connections between Comets and Star- and Planet-Forming Regions

Comets are the frozen time capsules of our solar system's birth. They preserve a chemical inventory that records the physical and chemical processes active in the protoplanetary disk where they formed. Despite the growing number of comet observations a proper comparison with the chemistry in star- and planet-forming regions remains mostly unexplored.

Our Goal: Understand Planet Formation

The ProDisCo project aims to investigate correlations, similarities and differences between the compositions of comets and that of protoplanetary disks. This will offer new insights into cometary science in the context of planets formation. The results will further improve our understanding of how planetary systems form and evolve. Specifically, they will allow us to distinguish whether the Solar System's composition was inherited completely from the interstellar medium or if chemical reactions significantly altered the initial composition of different species.

Our Approach: More Data and Statistic

We have built a robust database by collecting data from existing, freely accessible telescope archives and performing new observations using state-of-the-art instruments (e.g., ESO/CRIRES+, ALMA). 

We have used the latest data reduction procedures to create the first, most accurate database of molecular abundances for both comets and protoplanetary disks. 

We have implemented a proper statistical analysis (such as multivariate analysis) to compared the molecular abundance ratios of approximately 35 comets and 20 star- and planet-forming regions.