Published in

American Association for the Advancement of Science, Science, 6055(334), p. 487-490

DOI: 10.1126/science.1207325

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Images of Asteroid 21 Lutetia: A Remnant Planetesimal from the Early Solar System

Journal article published in 2011 by Holger Sierks, Philippe Lamy, Cesare Barbieri, Detlef Koschny, Hans Rickman, Rafael Rodrigo, Michael F. A'Hearn, F. Angrilli, M. Antonella Barucci, Jean-Loup Bertaux, Ivano Bertini, Sebastien Besse, B. Carry, Gabriele Cremonese, Da Deppo and other authors.
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Upload
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Upload
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Policy details
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Images obtained by the Optical, Spectroscopic, and Infrared Remote Imaging System (OSIRIS) cameras onboard the Rosetta spacecraft reveal that asteroid 21 Lutetia has a complex geology and one of the highest asteroid densities measured so far, 3.4 ± 0.3 grams per cubic centimeter. The north pole region is covered by a thick layer of regolith, which is seen to flow in major landslides associated with albedo variation. Its geologically complex surface, ancient surface age, and high density suggest that Lutetia is most likely a primordial planetesimal. This contrasts with smaller asteroids visited by previous spacecraft, which are probably shattered bodies, fragments of larger parents, or reaccumulated rubble piles.