Jorge Meléndez
CAUP

Abstract
Previous studies have concluded that the Sun is a typical star as regards its chemical composition, but our elemental abundance analysis of unprecedented (0.01 dex) accuracy shows that the Sun is not a typical Sun-like star. The Sun shows a deficiency of about 20% in dust-forming elements in comparison with most solar-type stars, including all stars in our study known to have close-in giant planets. We propose that the dust missing in the Sun was locked up in planetesimals and later in terrestrial planets. Thus our technique can be used to select the best targets for discovering terrestrial planets like our own Earth.

2009 October 07, 13:30

IA/U.Porto
Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto (Auditorium)
Rua das Estrelas, 4150-762 Porto