Chemistry Meets Astronomy: The Role of Molecules in Understanding Stellar and
Planetary Formation
Eric Herbst (Ohio State University)
The study of how stars form is one of the principal themes of astronomy. We now understand
that stars are produced in portions of interstellar clouds, where large amounts of cold
molecular gas and tiny dust particles collapse and heat up under the influence of gravity.
The evolutionary stages of this collapse are complex and have only been partially
elucidated. Surprisingly, gas-phase molecules are one of our best probes of the stages of
collapse because both the spectra of molecules and the chemical processes they undergo are
very sensitive to physical conditions. Molecules are detected in the interstellar medium
mainly using radio telescopes operating from the ground, although at very short radio
wavelengths it is necessary to use satellite observations. Besides telling astronomers much
about the formation of stars and planets, molecules and their synthesis are interesting
because they tell us that a complex organic and pre-biological chemistry occurs throughout
the universe and that it is related through the formation of stars and planets to the
chemistry and even the biology occurring on our own and other planets!
