C-class asteroid
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253 Mathilde, a C-class asteroid, imaged by the NEAR
probe in June 1997
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A very dark and non-reflective type of asteroid,
gray in color, with a composition believed to be similar to that of carbonaceous
chondrites (the "C" stands for carbonaceous). C-class asteroids are
the commonest type known and dominate the outer part of the main asteroid
belt. They have an albedo of 0.03 to
0.09 and a reflectance spectrum that is flat at wavelengths longer than
0.4 micron but shows a feature shorter than 0.4 micron thought to be due
to water of crystallization. Examples include (10) Hygiea
and (253) Mathilde. Subclasses include
B-class asteroids, F-class
asteroids, and G-class asteroids.
Related category
• ASTEROIDS
AND OTHER MINOR PLANETS: TYPES AND GROUPS
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