21 Lutetia

21 Lutetia
Rosetta image of 21 Lutetia at closest approach
Discovery
Discovered byHermann M. S. Goldschmidt
Discovery date15 November 1852
Designations
(21) Lutetia
Pronunciation/ljuːˈtiːʃiə/[1]
Named after
Paris (Latin: Lutētia)
Main belt
AdjectivesLutetian
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch May 31, 2020 (JD 2459000.5)
Aphelion2.833 AU
Perihelion2.037 AU
2.435 AU
Eccentricity0.16339
3.80 yr (1388.1 d)
87.976°
Inclination3.064°
80.867°
249.997°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions(121±1) × (101±1) × (75±13) km[3]
49±1 km[3]
Volume(5.0±0.4)×1014 m3[4]
Mass(1.700±0.017)×1018 kg[4]
Mean density
3.4±0.3 g/cm3[4]
0.3402 d (8.1655 h)[2]
96°[3]
North pole right ascension
51.8 ± 0.4°[3]
North pole declination
+10.8 ± 0.4°[3]
0.19 ± 0.01 (geometrical)[3]
0.073 ± 0.002 (bond)[3]
Temperature170–245 K[5]
M (Tholen)[2]
9.25[6] to 13.17
7.29[7]

21 Lutetia is a large M-type asteroid in the main asteroid belt. It measures about 100 kilometers in diameter (120 km along its major axis). It was discovered in 1852 by Hermann Goldschmidt, and is named after Lutetia, the Latin name of Paris.

Lutetia has an irregular shape and is heavily cratered, with the largest impact crater reaching 45 km in diameter. The surface is geologically heterogeneous and is intersected by a system of grooves and scarps, which are thought to be fractures. It has a high overall bulk density, suggesting that it is made of metal-rich rock.

The Rosetta probe passed within 3,162 km (1,965 mi) of Lutetia in July 2010.[8] It was the largest asteroid visited by a spacecraft until Dawn arrived at Vesta in July 2011.

  1. ^ Noah Webster (1884) A Practical Dictionary of the English Language
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference jpldata was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Cite error: The named reference Sierks2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference science28102011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Coradini2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference AstDys-Lutetia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Magri99 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference BBC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).