| Description: | The solar chemical composition is an important ingredient in our understanding of the formation, structure and evolution of both the Sun and our solar system. Furthermore, it is an essential reference standard against which the elemental contents of other astronomical objects are compared. In recent years the solar abundances of the most common metals -- C, N, O and Ne -- have undergone a quite dramatic downward revision, driven by our work on developing realistic 3D hydrodynamical solar model atmospheres, non-LTE line formation and improved atomic/molecular data. While welcomed by most areas of astronomy, these changes have caused a great deal of consternation for helioseismology. I will present our recently completed work on redetermining the solar abundances of all elements, which will appear in ARAA later this year. I will also discuss how the Sun compares with other solar-type stars and what this may tell us about planet formation. |
