Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Reduced Mass Coordinates: Isolated Two-body Problem

Reduced 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...

Atomic Mass

Atomic Mass

Atoms — and the protons, neutrons, and electrons that compose them — are extremely small. For example, a carbon atom weighs less than 2 × 10−23 g. When describing the properties of tiny objects such as atoms, we use appropriately small units of measure, such as the atomic mass unit (amu). The amu was originally defined based on hydrogen, the lightest element, then later in terms of oxygen. Since 1961, it has been defined with regard to the most abundant isotope of carbon, atoms of which are...

Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion

Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion

In the early 17th century, German astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler postulated three laws for the motion of planets in the solar system. He formulated his first two laws based on the observations of his forebears, Nikolaus Copernicus and Tycho Brahe.
Polish astronomer Nikolaus Copernicus put forth a theory that stated a heliocentric model for the solar system. According to this heliocentric theory, all the planets, including Earth, orbit the Sun in circular orbits.
On the other hand,...

Density

Density

Density is an important characteristic of substances, crucial in determining whether an object sinks or floats in a fluid. Its SI unit is kg/m3, and its cgs unit is g/cm3. The density of an object helps in identifying its composition, and also reveals information about the phase of the matter and its substructure. The densities of liquids and solids are roughly comparable, consistent with the fact that their atoms are in close contact. However, gases have much lower densities than liquids and...

Gravity between Spherical Bodies

Gravity between Spherical Bodies

Newton's law of gravitation describes the gravitational force between any two point masses. However, for extended spherical objects like the Earth, the Moon, and other planets, the law holds with an assumption that masses of spherical objects are concentrated at their respective centers.
This assumption can be proved easily by showing that the expression for gravitational potential energy between a hollow sphere of mass (M) and a point mass (m) is the same as it would be for a pair of extended...

Acceleration due to Gravity on Other Planets

Acceleration due to Gravity on Other Planets

The gravitational acceleration of an object near the Earth's surface is called the acceleration due to gravity. It can be measured by conducting simple experiments on Earth. However, such an experiment is impossible to conduct on the surface of other planets.
Astronomical observations are thus used to measure the acceleration due to gravity on other planets. This can be determined by observing the effect of a planet's gravity on objects close to it. The crucial factor that helps in this...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Redox-driven mineral and organic associations in Jezero Crater, Mars.

Nature·2025

Same author

Fe-phosphates in Jezero Crater as evidence for an ancient habitable environment on Mars.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Complete mitochondrial genomes of <i>Notropis oxyrhynchus</i> and <i>Notropis buccula</i> (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae).

Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources·2024

Same author

Aqueously altered igneous rocks sampled on the floor of Jezero crater, Mars.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2022

Same author

An olivine cumulate outcrop on the floor of Jezero crater, Mars.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2022

Same author

Radiation recall dermatitis: A review of the literature.

Seminars in oncology·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths

Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths

Published on: July 1, 2019

Asteroid 21 Lutetia: low mass, high density.

M Pätzold¹, T P Andert, S W Asmar

¹Rheinisches Institut für Umweltforschung, Abteilung Planetenforschung, an der Universität zu Köln, 50931 Cologne, Germany. martin.paetzold@uni-koeln.de

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|October 29, 2011

Summary

Rosetta spacecraft data revealed asteroid 21 Lutetia has a mass of 1.700 × 10^18 kg and a bulk density of 3.4 × 10^3 kg/m^3, offering insights into its composition.

More Related Videos

Experimental Methods of Dust Charging and Mobilization on Surfaces with Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation or Plasmas

Experimental Methods of Dust Charging and Mobilization on Surfaces with Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation or Plasmas

Published on: April 3, 2018

Laboratory Drop Towers for the Experimental Simulation of Dust-aggregate Collisions in the Early Solar System

Laboratory Drop Towers for the Experimental Simulation of Dust-aggregate Collisions in the Early Solar System

Published on: June 5, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths

Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths

Published on: July 1, 2019

Experimental Methods of Dust Charging and Mobilization on Surfaces with Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation or Plasmas

Experimental Methods of Dust Charging and Mobilization on Surfaces with Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation or Plasmas

Published on: April 3, 2018

Laboratory Drop Towers for the Experimental Simulation of Dust-aggregate Collisions in the Early Solar System

Laboratory Drop Towers for the Experimental Simulation of Dust-aggregate Collisions in the Early Solar System

Published on: June 5, 2014

Area of Science:

Planetary Science
Asteroid Research
Space Mission Analysis

Background:

Asteroid 21 Lutetia is a key target for understanding asteroid composition and formation.
Previous studies lacked precise mass and density measurements for 21 Lutetia.

Purpose of the Study:

To accurately determine the mass of asteroid 21 Lutetia.
To calculate the bulk density of 21 Lutetia to infer its internal structure and composition.

Main Methods:

Utilized Doppler shift data from the Rosetta spacecraft's radio signals during its flyby of 21 Lutetia.
Applied a least-squares fit to residual frequency observations, correcting for non-Lutetia Doppler contributions.
Integrated volume data from the Rosetta OSIRIS camera to compute bulk density.

Main Results:

Determined the mass of asteroid 21 Lutetia to be (1.700 ± 0.017) × 10^18 kg.
Calculated the bulk density of 21 Lutetia as (3.4 ± 0.3) × 10^3 kg/m^3.
These measurements provide crucial data for asteroid composition and interior studies.

Conclusions:

The precise mass and density of 21 Lutetia have been established through spacecraft measurements.
The determined bulk density offers significant clues regarding the asteroid's internal composition and structure.
This study enhances our understanding of C-type asteroids and their place in the solar system.