Asteroid "Lutetia"

A closer look at the asteroid that orbits between Mars and Jupiter reveals that Lutetia's Surface is battered with many craters, indicating that during the 4,5 BY (Billion Years) of existence, the primitive survivor has suffered many impacts.

The information gathered also confirm that Lutetia, discovered by French painter turned astronomer Hermann Goldschmidt in 1852, is approx. 100 Km in diameter, has a elongated body, and its longest side measures about 130 Km.

In a statement, David Southwood, ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration, said:“It has been a great day for exploration, a great day for European science. The clockwork precision is a great tribute to the scientists and engineers in our Member States in our industry and, not least, in ESA itself”.