Interstellar organics and possible connections with the carbonaceous components of meteorites and IDPs

Studying the chemical and isotopic composition of interstellar ice and dust provides insight into the composition and chemical history of the solid bodies in the solar nebula and the nature of the materials subsequently brought into the inner part of the solar system by comets and meteorites. It is now possible to probe the composition of these microscopic interstellar particles. High quality IR spectra of many different astronomical sources (some associated with dark molecular clouds, and others in the diffuse interstellar medium) are now available. Comparisons of these spectra with laboratory spectra and complex organic components of these materials are discussed.