A new animated video by NASA’s Dawn mission scientists provides dramatic flyover views of the dwarf planet Ceres.
The video is based on observations of the dwarf planet that were taken from the first mapping orbit of the Dawn spacecraft, at an altitude of 8,400 miles (13,600 km), as well as the most recent navigational images taken from 3,200 miles (5,100 km).
Nearly 80 images provided information for a 3D terrain model. The vertical dimension has been exaggerated by a factor of two, and a star field has been added in the background.
“We used a 3D terrain model that we had produced based on the images acquired so far. They will become increasingly detailed as the mission progresses – with each additional orbit bringing us closer to the surface,” said Dr Ralf Jaumann of the German Aerospace Center, Dawn team member.
Dawn arrived at Ceres on March 6, 2015. It is the first mission to visit a dwarf planet, and the first to orbit two distinct Solar System targets. From July 2011 through September 2012, the probe studied the protoplanet Vesta.
A new video animation is based on images taken by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA.
Dawn entered its second mapping orbit on June 3, 2015. Circling Ceres every 3.1 days, the spacecraft will make extensive scientific observations when it is over the sunlit side and will transmit its findings to Earth when it is over the side in darkness.
The images will be 3 times as sharp as those from the first mapping orbit. This mapping phase is scheduled to continue for eight revolutions, providing plenty of opportunities to gather a wealth of data.
Dawn combines innovative state-of-the-art technologies pioneered by other recent missions with off-the-shelf components and, in some cases, spare parts and instrumentation left over from previous missions. Its futuristic, hyper-efficient ion propulsion system allows the space probe to go into orbit around two different Solar System bodies.
