Organic matter with 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 Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt Objects (EKBOs) 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 throughout the Solar System, as well as in the nearby environments from which these compounds could be inherited. Scientists with backgrounds in laboratory experimentation, chemical modelling, space exploration, instrumentation, theoretical chemistry, geo-/cosmochemistry and astronomical 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, EKBOs, icy moons, terrestrial planets, and planetary atmospheres. We also ask how current and future space exploration missions, such as OSIRIS-REx, Hayabusa2, Europa Clipper, JUICE, Dragonfly, and Martian Moons Explorer (MMX) can push the boundaries of our knowledge of organic matter.