Organic matter of variable degrees of chemical complexity is found throughout our Solar System – ranging from simple molecules like methane in Titan’s lakes to macromolecular matter in meteorites. While small bodies like comets and Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) are thought to have preserved a pristine material record, the organic chemistry in planets and their satellites can be strong indicators of environmental processes. The widespread nature of organic species leaves us wondering: How did these organics form? Was this chemical complexity inherited, did it emerge in the Solar System, or a combination of both? What do these molecules tell us about the physical conditions and formational history of planetary bodies and other objects in the Solar System? Is there a link between this organic matter and the emergence of life?

This session is dedicated to the study of organic molecules and their chemical reactions taking place within the Solar System as well as the nearby environments from which these compounds could be inherited. Scientists with backgrounds in laboratory experimentation, chemical modelling, space exploration, instrumentation, theoretical chemistry, and observations are brought together to share knowledge and progress our understanding of the evolution of organic chemistry in interplanetary / interstellar dust particles, meteorites, comets, asteroids, KBOs, icy moons, terrestrial planets, and planetary atmospheres. We also ask how future space exploration missions can push the boundaries of our current knowledge.