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Dawn Spacecraft Delivers New Image of Dwarf Planet Ceres
The Dawn spacecraft has been exploring the asteroid belt since 2007, and in March 2015, it arrived at the dwarf planet Ceres. The spacecraft has been sending back images and data ever since, and on January 19, 2015, it delivered a new image of Ceres that has scientists excited about what they might find on this mysterious world.
Introduction
The Dawn spacecraft is a NASA mission that was launched in 2007 with the goal of exploring two of the largest objects in the asteroid belt: Vesta and Ceres. After spending more than a year studying Vesta, Dawn arrived at Ceres in March 2015. Since then, it has been orbiting the dwarf planet and sending back data and images that are helping scientists learn more about this enigmatic world.
What is Ceres?
Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, with a diameter of about 590 miles (940 kilometers). It was discovered in 1801 by Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi and was initially classified as a planet. However, as more objects were discovered in the same region of space, Ceres was reclassified as an asteroid. In 2006, it was reclassified again as a dwarf planet.
The New Image
The new image of Ceres that was delivered by the Dawn spacecraft on January 19, 2015, shows a bright spot on the surface of the dwarf planet. This spot had been seen in previous images taken by Dawn, but this new image provides a much clearer view. Scientists are still unsure what this bright spot might be, but they believe it could be ice or some other reflective material.
What Have We Learned So Far?
Since arriving at Ceres in March 2015, the Dawn spacecraft has been studying the dwarf planet from orbit. It has sent back images and data that have allowed scientists to learn more about the surface of Ceres, its composition, and its history. Some of the key findings so far include:
The Bright Spots
The bright spots on the surface of Ceres have been a source of fascination for scientists since they were first spotted in images taken by Dawn. The new image delivered in January 2015 provides a clearer view of one of these spots, but scientists are still unsure what they might be.
The Occator Crater
The Occator crater is one of the most prominent features on the surface of Ceres. It is about 60 miles (90 kilometers) wide and 2 miles (4 kilometers) deep. The crater is home to several bright spots, including the one seen in the new image delivered by Dawn.
The Composition of Ceres
Data from Dawn has shown that Ceres is composed primarily of rock and ice. It is believed to have a rocky core surrounded by a layer of ice, with a thin crust on top. The ice on Ceres is thought to be a mixture of water ice and other volatile compounds.
What's Next?
The Dawn spacecraft will continue to study Ceres from orbit for as long as it remains operational. Scientists hope to learn more about the composition and history of this mysterious world, as well as the origin and evolution of the asteroid belt as a whole.
Conclusion
The new image delivered by the Dawn spacecraft on January 19, 2015, provides a clearer view of one of the bright spots on the surface of Ceres. While scientists are still unsure what these spots might be, they are excited about what they might learn from further study of this enigmatic world.
FAQs
1. What is the Dawn spacecraft?
The Dawn spacecraft is a NASA mission that was launched in 2007 with the goal of exploring two of the largest objects in the asteroid belt: Vesta and Ceres.
2. What is Ceres?
Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, with a diameter of about 590 miles (940 kilometers). It was discovered in 1801 by Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi and was initially classified as a planet.
3. What have we learned about Ceres so far?
Since arriving at Ceres in March 2015, the Dawn spacecraft has been studying the dwarf planet from orbit. It has sent back images and data that have allowed scientists to learn more about the surface of Ceres, its composition, and its history.
4. What's next for the Dawn spacecraft?
The Dawn spacecraft will continue to study Ceres from orbit for as long as it remains operational. Scientists hope to learn more about the composition and history of this mysterious world, as well as the origin and evolution of the asteroid belt as a whole.
5. What are the bright spots on Ceres?
The bright spots on the surface of Ceres have been a source of fascination for scientists since they were first spotted in images taken by Dawn. While scientists are still unsure what these spots might be, they believe they could be ice or some other reflective material.
This abstract is presented as an informational news item only and has not been reviewed by a subject matter professional. This abstract should not be considered medical advice. This abstract might have been generated by an artificial intelligence program. See TOS for details.
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