# 253 Mathilde

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Asteroid

253 Mathilde 253 Mathilde as seen by NEAR in 1997 Discovery[1] Discovered by J. Palisa Discovery site Vienna Obs. Discovery date 12 November 1885 Designations Pronunciation /məˈtɪldə/ Named after Mathilde Loewy Alternative designations A885 VA, 1915 TN 1949 OL1 Minor planet category Main belt Orbital characteristics[2] Epoch 31 July 2016 (JD 2457600.5) Uncertainty parameter 0 Observation arc 130.38 yr (47622 d) Aphelion 3.35003411 AU (501.157970 Gm) Perihelion 1.9467702 AU (291.23268 Gm) Semi-major axis 2.648402147 AU (396.1953219 Gm) Eccentricity 0.26492652 Orbital period (sidereal) 4.31 yr (1574.3 d) Average orbital speed 17.98 km/s[3] Mean anomaly 170.584348° Mean motion 0° 13m 43.248s / day Inclination 6.7427122° Longitude of ascending node 179.58936° Argument of perihelion 157.39642° Earth MOID 0.939032 AU (140.4772 Gm) Jupiter MOID 2.06073 AU (308.281 Gm) TJupiter 3.331 Physical characteristics Dimensions 52.8 km[2] (66×48×46 km[4]) Mass (1.033±0.044)×1017 kg[5] Mean density 1.3 g/cm3[5] Equatorial surface gravity 0.00989 m/s2 Equatorial escape velocity 22.9 m/s Synodic rotation period 417.7 h (17.40 d)[2] 17.406 ± 0.010 d[6] (17 d 9 h 45 min) Geometric albedo 0.0436±0.004[2] Temperature ≈ 174[7] K Spectral type Cb[2] Absolute magnitude (H) 10.3[2]

**253 Mathilde** is an [asteroid](/source/Asteroid) in the intermediate [asteroid belt](/source/Asteroid_belt), approximately 50 kilometers in diameter, that was discovered by Austrian astronomer [Johann Palisa](/source/Johann_Palisa) at [Vienna Observatory](/source/Vienna_Observatory) on 12 November 1885. It has a relatively [elliptical](/source/Ellipse) [orbit](/source/Orbit) that requires more than four years to circle the Sun. This [tumbling](/source/List_of_tumblers_(small_Solar_System_bodies)) asteroid has an unusually [slow rate of rotation](/source/List_of_slow_rotators_(minor_planets)), requiring 17.4 days to complete a 360° [revolution](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/revolution) about its axis. It is a primitive [C-type asteroid](/source/C-type_asteroid), which means the surface has a high proportion of [carbon](/source/Carbon); giving it a dark surface that reflects only 4% of the light that falls on it.[8]

Mathilde was visited by the [NEAR Shoemaker](/source/NEAR_Shoemaker) spacecraft during June 1997, on its way to asteroid [433 Eros](/source/433_Eros). During the short flyby, the spacecraft imaged a hemisphere of the asteroid, revealing many large craters that had gouged out depressions in the surface. It was the first carbonaceous asteroid to be explored and, until [21 Lutetia](/source/21_Lutetia) was visited in 2010, it was the largest asteroid to be [visited by a spacecraft](/source/List_of_minor_planets_and_comets_visited_by_spacecraft).

## Observation history

Animation of NEAR Shoemaker trajectory from 19 February 1996 to 12 February 2001.
  [NEAR Shoemaker](/source/NEAR_Shoemaker);    [433 Eros](/source/433_Eros);   [Earth](/source/Earth);   253 Mathilde ;   [Sun](/source/Sun);

In 1880, Johann Palisa, the director of the Austrian Naval Observatory ([538](/source/List_of_observatory_codes#538)), was offered a position as an assistant at the newly completed [Vienna Observatory](/source/Vienna_Observatory). Although the job represented a demotion for Johann, it gave him access to the new 27-inch (690 mm) [refractor](/source/Refractor), the largest telescope in the world at that time. By this point Johann had already discovered 27 asteroids, and he would employ the Vienna 27-inch (690 mm) and 12-inch (300 mm) instruments to find an additional 94 asteroids before he retired.[9]

Among his discoveries was the asteroid 253 Mathilde, found on 12 November 1885. The initial [orbital elements](/source/Orbital_elements) of the asteroid were then computed by V. A. Lebeuf, another Austrian astronomer working at the [Paris Observatory](/source/Paris_Observatory).[10] The name of the asteroid was suggested by Lebeuf, after Mathilde, the wife of [Moritz Loewy](/source/Moritz_Loewy)—who was the vice director of the observatory in Paris.[1][10]

In 1995, ground-based observations determined that Mathilde is a [C-type asteroid](/source/C-type_asteroid). It was also found to have an unusually long period of rotation of 418 hours.[10]

## Characteristics

[Damodar](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Damodar_(crater)&action=edit&redlink=1), a 20 km-wide [crater](/source/Impact_crater) on Mathilde

Image sequence of Mathilde during NEAR Shoemaker's flyby

Mathilde is very dark, with an [albedo](/source/Albedo) comparable to fresh [asphalt](/source/Asphalt_concrete),[11] and is thought to share the same composition as CI1 or CM2 [carbonaceous chondrite](/source/Carbonaceous_chondrite) [meteorites](/source/Meteorite), with a surface dominated by [phyllosilicate minerals](/source/Silicate_minerals).[12] The asteroid has a number of extremely large [craters](/source/Impact_crater), with the individual craters being named for [coal](/source/Coal) fields and basins around the world.[13] The two largest craters, Ishikari (29.3 km) and Karoo (33.4 km), are as wide as the asteroid's average radius.[4] The impacts appear to have spalled large volumes off the asteroid, as suggested by the angular edges of the craters.[8] Uniformity in brightness and colour were visible in the craters and there was no appearance of layering, so the asteroid's interior must be very homogeneous. There are indications of material movement along the downslope direction.[4]

The density measured by NEAR Shoemaker, 1,300 kg/m3, is less than half that of a typical carbonaceous chondrite; this may indicate that the asteroid is very loosely packed [rubble pile](/source/Rubble_pile).[5] The same is true of several C-type asteroids studied by ground-based telescopes equipped with [adaptive optics](/source/Adaptive_optics) systems ([45 Eugenia](/source/45_Eugenia), [90 Antiope](/source/90_Antiope), [87 Sylvia](/source/87_Sylvia) and [121 Hermione](/source/121_Hermione)). Up to 50% of the interior volume of Mathilde consists of open space. However, the existence of a 20-km-long scarp may indicate that the asteroid does have some structural strength, so it could contain some large internal components.[14] The low interior density is an inefficient transmitter of impact shock through the asteroid, which also helps to preserve the surface features to a high degree.[4]

Mathilde's [orbit](/source/Orbit) is [eccentric](/source/Eccentricity_(orbit)), taking it to the outer reaches of the belt. Nonetheless, the orbit lies entirely between the orbits of [Mars](/source/Mars) and [Jupiter](/source/Jupiter); it does not cross the planetary orbits. It also has one of the slowest rotation periods of the known asteroids—most asteroids have a rotation period in the range of 2–24 hours.[15] Because of the slow rotation rate, NEAR Shoemaker was only able to photograph 60% of the asteroid's surface. The slow rate of rotation may be accounted for by a satellite orbiting the asteroid, but a search of the NEAR images revealed none larger than 10 km in diameter out to 20 times the radius of Mathilde.[16]

## Exploration

On 27 June 1997, the [NEAR Shoemaker](/source/NEAR_Shoemaker) spacecraft passed within 1,212 km of Mathilde while moving at a velocity of 9.93 km/s. This close approach allowed the spacecraft to capture over 500 images of the surface,[8] and provided data for more accurate determinations of the asteroid's dimensions and mass (based on gravitational perturbation of the spacecraft).[5] However, only one hemisphere of Mathilde was imaged during the fly-by.[14] This was only the third asteroid to be imaged from a nearby distance, following [951 Gaspra](/source/951_Gaspra) and [243 Ida](/source/243_Ida).

## See also

- [List of craters on 253 Mathilde](/source/List_of_craters_on_253_Mathilde)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-moore_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-moore_1-1) [Moore, Sir Patrick](/source/Patrick_Moore) (1999). *The Wandering Astronomer*. CRC Press. pp. [59](https://archive.org/details/wanderingastrono0000moor/page/59)-61. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7503-0693-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7503-0693-9). [OL](/source/OL_(identifier)) [6899638M](https://openlibrary.org/books/OL6899638M).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-jpl_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-jpl_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-jpl_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-jpl_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-jpl_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-jpl_2-5) Unless otherwise noted, parameters are per: Yeomans, Donald K. (29 August 2003). ["253 Mathilde"](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=253). *JPL Small-Body Database Browser*. NASA. Retrieved 12 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** For semi-major axis *a*, orbital period *T* and eccentricity *e*, the average orbital speed is given by: 1. v o = 2 π a T [ 1 − e 2 4 − 3 e 4 64 − … ] = 18.31 km/s [ 1 − 0.0177 − 0.00008 − ⋯ ] ≈ 17.98 km/s {\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}v_{o}&={\frac {2\pi a}{T}}\left[1-{\frac {e^{2}}{4}}-{\frac {3e^{4}}{64}}-\dots \right]\\&=18.31\ {\mbox{km/s}}\left[1-0.0177-0.00008-\cdots \right]\\&\approx 17.98\ {\mbox{km/s}}\\\end{aligned}}\!\,} For the circumference of an ellipse, see: H. St̀eocker; J. Harris (1998). [*Handbook of Mathematics and Computational Science*](https://archive.org/details/handbookofmathem00harr/page/386). Springer. pp. [386](https://archive.org/details/handbookofmathem00harr/page/386). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-387-94746-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-387-94746-9).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-icarus140_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-icarus140_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-icarus140_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-icarus140_4-3) J. Veverka; et al. (1999). ["NEAR Encounter with Asteroid 253 Mathilde: Overview"](https://doi.org/10.1006%2Ficar.1999.6120). *Icarus*. **140** (1): 3–16. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1999Icar..140....3V](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1999Icar..140....3V). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1006/icar.1999.6120](https://doi.org/10.1006%2Ficar.1999.6120).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Yeomans_1997_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Yeomans_1997_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Yeomans_1997_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Yeomans_1997_5-3) D. K. Yeomans; et al. (1997). "Estimating the mass of asteroid 253 Mathilde from tracking data during the NEAR flyby". *[Science](/source/Science_(journal))*. **278** (5346): 2106–9. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1997Sci...278.2106Y](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1997Sci...278.2106Y). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1126/science.278.5346.2106](https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.278.5346.2106). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [9405343](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9405343).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Stefano Mottola; et al. (1995). "The slow rotation of 253 Mathilde". *Planetary and Space Science*. **43** (12): 1609–1613. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1995P&SS...43.1609M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1995P&SS...43.1609M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/0032-0633(95)00127-1](https://doi.org/10.1016%2F0032-0633%2895%2900127-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** For asteroid albedo *α*, semimajor axis *a*, [solar luminosity](/source/Solar_luminosity) *L 0 {\displaystyle L_{0}}*, [Stefan–Boltzmann constant](/source/Stefan%E2%80%93Boltzmann_constant) *σ* and the asteroid's [infrared](/source/Infrared) emissivity *ε* (≈ 0.9), the approximate mean temperature *T* is given by: 1. T = ( ( 1 − α ) L 0 ϵ σ 16 π a 2 ) 1 4 = ( ( 1 − 0.0436 ) ( 3.827 × 10 26 W ) 0.9 ( 5.670 × 10 − 8 W/m 2 K 4 ) 16 ⋅ 3.142 ( 3.959 × 10 11 m ) 2 ) 1 4 = 173.7 K {\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}T&=\left({\frac {(1-\alpha )L_{0}}{\epsilon \sigma 16\pi a^{2}}}\right)^{\frac {1}{4}}\\&=\left({\frac {(1-0.0436)(3.827\times 10^{26}\ {\mbox{W}})}{0.9(5.670\times 10^{-8}\ {\mbox{W/m}}^{2}{\mbox{K}}^{4})16\cdot 3.142(3.959\times 10^{11}\ {\mbox{m}})^{2}}}\right)^{\frac {1}{4}}\\&=173.7\ {\mbox{K}}\end{aligned}}} See: Torrence V. Johnson; Paul R. Weissman; Lucy-Ann A. McFadden (2007). [*Encyclopedia of the Solar System*](https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofso0000unse_u6d1/page/294). Elsevier. pp. [294](https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofso0000unse_u6d1/page/294). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-12-088589-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-12-088589-3).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-flyby_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-flyby_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-flyby_8-2) Williams, David R. (18 December 2001). ["NEAR Flyby of Asteroid 253 Mathilde"](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mission/near/near_mathilde.html). NASA. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060818193400/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mission/near/near_mathilde.html) from the original on 18 August 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Raab, Herbert (2002). ["Johann Palisa, the most successful visual discoverer of"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070928170558/http://www.astrometrica.at/Papers/Palisa.pdf) (PDF). Astronomical Society of Linz. Archived from [the original](http://www.astrometrica.at/Papers/Palisa.pdf) (PDF) on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-NEAR_press_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-NEAR_press_10-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-NEAR_press_10-2) Savage, D.; Young, L.; Diller, G.; Toulouse, A. (February 1996). ["Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) Press Kit"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120319075326/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/presskit/1996/NEAR_Press_Kit/NEARpk.txt). NASA. Archived from [the original](https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/presskit/1996/NEAR_Press_Kit/NEARpk.txt) on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Pon, Brian (30 June 1999). ["Pavement Albedo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070829153207/http://eetd.lbl.gov/HeatIsland/Pavements/Albedo/). Heat Island Group. Archived from [the original](http://eetd.lbl.gov/HeatIsland/Pavements/Albedo/) on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Kelley, M. S.; Gaffey, M. J.; Reddy, V. (12–16 March 2007). "Near-IR Spectroscopy and Possible Meteorite Analogs for Asteroid (253)". *38th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference*. League City, Texas: Lunar & Planetary Institute. p. 2366. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2007LPI....38.2366K](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007LPI....38.2366K).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Blue, Jennifer (29 August 2007). ["Categories for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites"](https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/append6.html#Asteroids). USGS. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070824115900/http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/append6.html) from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 29 August 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aisr33_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aisr33_14-1) Cheng, Andrew F. (2004). ["Implications of the NEAR mission for internal structure of Mathilde and Eros"](https://zenodo.org/record/997583). *Advances in Space Research*. **33** (9): 1558–1563. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2004AdSpR..33.1558C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2004AdSpR..33.1558C). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0273-1177(03)00452-6](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0273-1177%2803%2900452-6).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Lang, Kenneth R. (2003). ["2. Asteroids and meteorites, Size, color and spin"](http://ase.tufts.edu/cosmos/view_chapter.asp?id=15&page=3). *NASA's Cosmos*. NASA. Retrieved 29 August 2007.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** W. J. Merline; et al. (1998). ["Search for Satellites of 253 Mathilde from Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous Flyby Data"](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1945-5100.1998.tb01327.x). *Meteoritics & Planetary Science*. **33** (S4): A105. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1998M&PSA..33..105M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1998M&PSA..33..105M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/j.1945-5100.1998.tb01327.x](https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1945-5100.1998.tb01327.x).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [(253) Mathilde](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/(253)_Mathilde).

- Bowell, Ted & Koehn, Bruce (2 September 2007). ["The Asteroid Orbital Elements Database"](http://ftp.lowell.edu/pub/elgb/astorb.html). Lowell Observatory. Retrieved 2 September 2007.

- Staff (28 August 2007). ["Discovery Circumstances: Numbered Minor Planets"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080510154135/http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/lists/NumberedMPs.html). Minor Planet Center. Archived from [the original](http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/lists/NumberedMPs.html) on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2007.

- Hall, Alan (30 June 1997). ["NEAR-ing Mathilde"](http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=000944D0-BE16-1CF3-93F6809EC5880000). *Scientific American*. Retrieved 29 August 2007.

- [Flyby gif](http://near.jhuapl.edu/Mathilde/mfb.gif) [parent page](http://near.jhuapl.edu/Mathilde/images.html)

- [253 Mathilde](https://newton.spacedys.com/astdys/index.php?n=253&pc=1.1.0) at *AstDyS-2, Asteroids—Dynamic Site* - [Ephemeris](https://newton.spacedys.com/astdys/index.php?n=253&pc=1.1.3.0) **·** [Observation prediction](https://newton.spacedys.com/astdys/index.php?n=253&pc=1.1.4.0) **·** [Orbital info](https://newton.spacedys.com/astdys/index.php?n=253&pc=1.1.1) **·** [Proper elements](https://newton.spacedys.com/astdys/index.php?n=253&pc=1.1.6) **·** [Observational info](https://newton.spacedys.com/astdys/index.php?n=253&pc=1.1.7.0)

- [253 Mathilde](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=20000253) at the *[JPL Small-Body Database](/source/JPL_Small-Body_Database)* - [Close approach](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=20000253&view=C) **·** [Discovery](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=20000253&view=D) **·** [Ephemeris](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi?find_body=1&body_group=sb&sstr=20000253) **·** [Orbit viewer](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=20000253&view=V) **·** [Orbit parameters](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=20000253&view=O) **·** [Physical parameters](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=20000253&view=P)

v t e Minor planets navigator 252 Clementina 253 Mathilde 254 Augusta

Authority control databases JPL SBDB MPC

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [253 Mathilde](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/253_Mathilde) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/253_Mathilde?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.