Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
11:34
Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths
Published on: July 1, 2019
Itokawa dust particles: a direct link between S-type asteroids and ordinary chondrites
Tomoki Nakamura1, Takaaki Noguchi, Masahiko Tanaka
1Department of Earth and Planetary Material Sciences, Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, Aoba, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan. tomoki@m.tohoku.ac.jp
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 27, 2011
Summary
Hayabusa mission dust analyses reveal asteroid Itokawa
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Cosmochemistry
- Mineralogy
Background:
- Near-Earth asteroid 25143 Itokawa is a target of the Hayabusa mission.
- Spectroscopic observations suggest Itokawa is an S-type asteroid.
- Ordinary chondrites are the most common meteorites on Earth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the mineralogy and mineral chemistry of dust particles from asteroid Itokawa.
- To investigate the origin of ordinary chondrites.
- To understand the geological history of asteroid Itokawa.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of dust particles recovered by the Hayabusa spacecraft.
- Synchrotron-radiation x-ray diffraction.
- Transmission and scanning electron microscopy.
Main Results:
- Itokawa dust particles are mineralogically and chemically identical to thermally metamorphosed LL chondrites.
- Results confirm Itokawa is an S-type asteroid.
- Itokawa's surface particles show evidence of thermal annealing and impact shock.
Conclusions:
- Ordinary chondrites originate from S-type asteroids.
- Itokawa is composed of reassembled fragments from a larger parent asteroid.
- The study provides direct evidence linking meteorites to specific asteroid types.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:57Attachment of Sister Chromatids
As cells progress into mitosis, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the condensed chromosomes are exposed to the array of bipolar microtubules of the mitotic spindle. The kinetochore, a large, disc-shaped protein complex, is present at the centromere region of the sister chromatids and acts as a binding site for the microtubules. Usually, the plus-end of a single microtubule is embedded within the kinetochore. However, some kinetochores first establish lateral contact with the side-wall of a...
01:19Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP–MS): Overview
In inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS), an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) torch is used as an atomizer and ionizer. Solid samples are dissolved and volatilized before being introduced into the high-temperature argon plasma, while solution samples are nebulized and passed through the high-temperature argon plasma. Plasma dissociates the analytes and ionizes their component atoms to form a mixture of positive ions and molecular species. The positive ions are then passed on to...
01:16Precipitate Formation and Particle Size Control
In precipitation gravimetry, the precipitating agent should react specifically or selectively with the analyte. While a specific reagent reacts with the analyte alone, a selective reagent can react with a limited number of chemical species.
The obtained precipitate should be either a pure substance of known composition or easily converted to one by a simple process, such as ignition or drying. In addition, the precipitate should be insoluble and easily filterable. In general, filterability...
The obtained precipitate should be either a pure substance of known composition or easily converted to one by a simple process, such as ignition or drying. In addition, the precipitate should be insoluble and easily filterable. In general, filterability...
03:35Classifying Matter by Composition
Matter: Pure Substances and Mixtures
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories — pure substances and mixtures.
A pure substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition throughout with uniform properties. For example, any sample of sucrose has the same composition and same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
A mixture is composed of two or more types of...
According to its composition, the matter can be classified into two broad categories — pure substances and mixtures.
A pure substance is a form of matter that has a constant composition throughout with uniform properties. For example, any sample of sucrose has the same composition and same physical properties, such as melting point, color, and sweetness, regardless of the source from which it is isolated.
A mixture is composed of two or more types of...
01:20Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
Atomic emission spectroscopy (AES) is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a sample by analyzing the light emitted from excited atoms. In AES, atoms in a sample are excited to higher energy levels by thermal energy from high-temperature sources, such as plasma, arcs, or sparks. When these excited atoms return to lower energy states, they emit light at specific wavelengths characteristic of each element. The resulting atomic emission spectrum, which consists of...
01:12Reduced Mass Coordinates: Isolated Two-body Problem
In classical mechanics, the two-body problem is one of the fundamental problems describing the motion of two interacting bodies under gravity or any other central force. When considering the motion of two bodies, one of the most important concepts is the reduced mass coordinates, a quantity that allows the two-body problem to be solved like a single-body problem. In these circumstances, it is assumed that a single body with reduced mass revolves around another body fixed in a position with an...