Astrochemistry at High Resolution: Faraday Discussion 245

There is much speculation about the chemistry occurring in astronomical environments, but without observation of such environments, speculation is without foundation. Observational astrochemistry is the foundation on which astrochemistry is built. It offers us a window into a world that would otherwise be beyond our reach. Chemical spectroscopy lets us identify chemical species and probe their environments
gas-phase, surface, solid-state and photochemically-induced chemical processes drive the evolution of our Galaxy and others
chemical evolution controls the formation of stars and planets
chemistry is the forerunner that brings us to the edge of biology and of life itself. This window on our universe is being opened more widely as a revolution in the observational capabilities available to astronomers is expected to continue through the 2020s and beyond.

This Faraday Discussion volume brings together internationally leading experimental and theoretical scientists from across the fields of astronomy, chemistry, and physics to explore and exchange their ideas about our chemical understanding of the Universe.

The topics are organised into the following sections:

• Observational astrochemistry in the age of ALMA, NOEMA, JWST and beyond
• Laboratory astrochemistry of the gas phase
• Laboratory astrochemistry of and on dust and ices
• Computational astrochemistry