Take a video tour of the curious dwarf planet Ceres

On June 3, Dawn moved from an original orbit to a second, closer orbit. You can even tour the spots that’ve been driving huge amounts of controversy over the internet, such as the supposed bright spots that were a miles below the planet’s surface or the mountain dubbed as ‘The Pyramid.’.

Ceres’ mystery white spots were detected inside the dwarf planet’s Occator, a 6-mile-wide and 2-mile-deep crater.

A prominent mountain with bright streaks on its steep slopes is especially fascinating to scientists. This means the mountain has about the same elevation as Mount McKinley in Denali National Park, Alaska, the highest point in North America. It isn’t in a crater, and isn’t associated with any surrounding craters, so scientists are at a loss as to what forces shaped it. Why is it sitting in the middle of nowhere?

“The science team is continuing to evaluate the data and discuss theories about these bright spots at Occator”, said Dawn mission Principal Investigator Chris Russell. We’re looking forward to what we might see! “We don’t know yet, but we may find out with closer observations”, Dr Schenk said. The Dawn mission launched in 2007.

One other, nearer flyover of Ceres, at 1,500 miles above the floor, is deliberate for mid-August.

The crater Occator, which accommodates the planet’s signature, is within the northern hemisphere. The Occator crater is perhaps Ceres’ most unusual feature, due to the ethereal glow it gives off. Scientists have largely attributed it to the reflection of ice, but it could potentially be reactive salts, while some people may claim it’s the work of aliens.

“There are lots of different options that we’re thinking about learning additional”, stated Daybreak science workforce member David O’Brien, with the Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, Arizona.

“These include a pair of large impact basins called Urvara and Yalode in the southern hemisphere, which have numerous cracks extending away from them, and the large impact basin Kerwan, whose centre is just south of the equator”.