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Chronicles of Lutetia

Asteroid’s composition, terrain may teach scientists more about solar system

By Nadia Drake

- More than 2 years ago

Asteroid 21 Lutetia isn’t just another pebble in a big pile of space rocks. Scientists now think it is a leftover planetary seed, booted into the main belt by the planetary bullies growing around it.

ROCKY JOURNEY The asteroid Lutetia appears to be a remnant planetesimal — a planet’s seed — that originated near the sun, was kicked out of the inner solar neighborhood and landed in the main asteroid belt, scientists say.