Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Scattering And Absorption of Light in Planetary Regoliths
Published on: July 1, 2019
NEAR's flyby of 253 mathilde: images of a C asteroid
1J. Veverka, P. Thomas, A. Harch, B. Clark, J. F. Bell III, B. Carcich, J. Joseph, Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. C. Chapman and W. Merline, Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut Str.
Abstract:
On 27 June 1997, the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft flew within 1212 kilometers of asteroid 253 Mathilde. Mathilde is an irregular, heavily cratered body measuring 66 kilometers by 48 kilometers by 46 kilometers. The asteroid's surface is dark (estimated albedo between 0.035 and 0.050) and similar in color to some CM carbonaceous chondrites. No albedo or color variations were detected. The volume derived from the images and the mass from Doppler tracking of the spacecraft yield a mean density of 1.3 +/- 0.2 grams per cubic centimeter, about half that of CM chondrites, indicating a porous interior structure.
Related Concept Videos
Circular Orbits and Critical Velocity for Satellites
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) first suggested that the Earth and all other planets orbit the Sun in...
Kepler's First Law of Planetary Motion
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,...
Kepler's Second Law of Planetary Motion
While in an elliptical orbit, the total energy of the planet is conserved. Therefore, the planet slows down when it is at apogee and...
Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion
Reduced Mass Coordinates: Isolated Two-body Problem
Azimuths and Bearings

