The list of topics to be covered by the IAUS229-ACM2005 meeting intends to provide a stimulating reference frame for research and discussion. It has been designed to enhance the interdisciplinary nature of the Symposium in the quest for a unified understanding of the origin and evolution of small Solar System bodies as a whole, call them asteroids, comets, trans-Neptunian objects or meteors.

The main topics of the meeting will be:

  • Space missions: results from “Deep Impact” and other recent missions; future prospects.

  • Internal structure of asteroids and comets: binaries and satellites, gravitational aggregates, cometary nuclei structure.

  • Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs): physical properties, structure of the Kuiper belt.

  • Connections between asteroids, cometary nuclei and trans-Neptunian objects: differences and similarities.

  • Connections between asteroids and meteorites: mineralogical characterization.

  • Connections between comets, meteor showers and interplanetary dust.

  • Minor bodies dynamics: origin of comets, transitions between populations, non-gravitational forces, asteroid families.

  • Collisions and impacts: cratering, breakup, collisional evolution, hazards, bolides and super bolides, evolution of life.

  • Near-Earth Objects (NEOs): searching, statistics, origin, physical characterization.

  • Origin and evolution of our Solar System and extra-solar planetary systems: implications from minor bodies studies.
Although avoiding including in the main list the categories solely devoted to specific populations of minor bodies, communications covering any topic about asteroids, comets, trans-Neptunian objects, meteors, meteorites and interplanetary material are welcome.