The international scientific community discussed major challenges in understanding the origin and evolution of small bodies in the Solar System in Beijing

Organised by the International Space Science Institute in Beijing (ISSI-BJ), the workshop brought together researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including observational astronomy, cosmochemistry, theoretical modelling, laboratory experimentation and space exploration. The aim was to integrate knowledge from these different fields to build a more comprehensive understanding of the origin and evolution of asteroids, comets and other small bodies in the Solar System. 

During the session “Small Bodies in the Solar System Today”, Bojan Novaković delivered a presentation entitled Connecting Different Aspects of Asteroid Evolution: Current Insights and Future Perspectives. His talk reviewed recent advances in the study of the orbital, rotational, thermophysical and collisional evolution of asteroids, examining how these processes interact and contribute to shaping the properties observed in present-day asteroid populations. He also highlighted the importance of asteroid families as tools for reconstructing the dynamical and physical history of the Solar System. 

The scientific programme included presentations and discussions on planetesimal formation, the evolution of protoplanetary discs, the thermal history of small bodies, and the results of recent space exploration and sample-return missions. These sessions helped identify some of the major open questions that will guide international research efforts in the coming years. 

Participants also discussed the preparation of a series of review papers that will compile the workshop’s main conclusions and help define future research directions in this field.