Dr. David Nesvorny, Southwest Research Institute
When
Where
Abstract: Three Tales is a work by Gustave Flaubert that consists of three short stories with distinct themes and shifting narrative. Reminiscent of that, I will present, in three parts, a fragmented view of the origin and evolution of the outer solar system. In part one, I will discuss trans-Neptunian binaries as evidence for planetesimal formation by the streaming instability. It is likely that the streaming instability also seeded planetesimal formation elsewhere in the Solar System, and beyond. In part two, I will consider the origin and evolution of the Kuiper belt and show how its orbital structure emerged as a result of planet migration. Finally, in part three, I will discuss evidence for a very early migration of the solar system planets. These themes piece together events that took place in the early solar system when icy planetesimals formed beyond Neptune and propelled its radial migration.