Dark Craters and Bright Spots Revealed on Asteroid Ceres
Explanation:
What are those bright spots on asteroid Ceres?
As the robotic spacecraft Dawn approaches the largest asteroid in the
asteroid belt, the puzzle only deepens.
Sharper
new images taken last week and released yesterday indicate, as expected, that
most of the surface of
dwarf planet Ceres is dark and heavily cratered like our
Moon and the planet
Mercury.
The new images do not clearly indicate, however,
the nature of comparatively bright spots -- although more of them are seen to exist.
The
enigmatic
spots were first noticed on
Texas-sized
Ceres a few weeks ago during Dawn's approach.
The
intriguing
mystery might well be solved quickly as Dawn continues to advance toward
Ceres, being
on schedule to enter orbit on March 6.
Poll:
What do you think the light spots on Ceres are?
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
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