Tag Archive for 'Occator crater'

This false-color image shows the dwarf planet Ceres. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA.

Crust of Dwarf Planet Ceres is Rich in Water Ice, New Research Confirms

Aug 18, 2021 by News Staff

Using high spatial-resolution data gathered by the Gamma Ray and Neutron Detector (GRaND) aboard NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, planetary researchers have detected...

Dwarf Planet Ceres is Water-Rich World, New Research Suggests

Aug 10, 2020 by News Staff

High-resolution observations from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft of mysterious bright spots (faculae) in Occator crater on the dwarf planet Ceres suggest the...

The bright spots near the center of Occator crater are shown in enhanced color in this view from NASA’s Dawn robotic spacecraft. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / PSI / LPI.

Ceres’ Crust Kept Cryomagma Liquid for Millions of Years, Researchers Say

Feb 13, 2019 by News Staff

NASA’s Dawn mission recently spotted mysterious bright spots in the center of Occator Crater on the dwarf planet Ceres. According to a new study published...

This mosaic of Cerealia Facula is based on images obtained by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft in its second extended mission, from an altitude as low as about 21 miles (34 km). The contrast in resolution obtained by the two phases is visible here, reflected by a few gaps in the high-resolution coverage. This image is superposed to a similar scene acquired in the low-altitude mapping orbit of the mission from an altitude of about 240 miles (385 km). The increased resolution afforded by the low altitude is revealing intimate details about the relationships between bright and dark materials across the facula, which will help resolve the mystery of its origin. Cerealia Facula is located at about 19.7 degrees north latitude and 239.6 degrees east longitude. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / PSI.

Dawn Shows Ceres’ Mysterious Bright Spots in Spectacular Detail

Jul 23, 2018 by News Staff

New images of Ceres, taken by NASA’s Dawn orbiter, show the bright areas in sharper detail than ever before. This mosaic of Cerealia Facula is based...

This image from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft shows a boulder field near Occator crater’s eastern rim. It was obtained on June 9, 2018 from an altitude of about 30 miles (48 km). The center of this picture is located at about 18.3 degrees north latitude and 244.8 degrees east longitude. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA.

NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft Captures New Images of Ceres’ Occator Crater

Jul 3, 2018 by News Staff

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has sent back stunning close-up images from its lowest-ever and final orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres. This image from NASA’s...

With a diameter of 57 miles (92 km), Occator crater is larger than Tycho crater on the Moon. Its steep walls stand tall at over 1.4 miles (2 km), higher than the North face of the Eiger in the Bernese Alps. The origin and nature of the bright spots in its interior is still not clear. Image credit: DLR.

New NASA Video Shows Dwarf Planet Ceres at Opposition from Sun

May 17, 2017 by News Staff

This video is made of images taken by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, from a position exactly between the Sun and the surface of Ceres. Dawn successfully observed...

Cerealia Facula, a bright dome in the center of Occator Crater on the dwarf planet Ceres, is shown in enhanced color in this view from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / PSI / LPI.

Researchers Determine Age of Ceres’ Brightest Spot

Mar 10, 2017 by News Staff

Cerealia Facula, a dome-like feature located in the center of Ceres’ Occator crater, is only 4 million years old — approximately 30 million years...

Fly over Ceres’ Colossal Crater and Bright Spots in Incredible Video

Dec 24, 2016 by Enrico de Lazaro

Researchers from the Institute of Planetary Research at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, or DLR) have produced...

This image of the limb of Ceres shows a section of the northern hemisphere. Prominently featured is Occator Crater. Dawn took this image on Oct. 17, 2016, at a distance of about 920 miles above the surface. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA.

Dawn Snaps New Images of Ceres’ Occator Crater

Nov 23, 2016 by News Staff

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has captured another series of photos in its fifth orbit of the dwarf planet Ceres. This image of the limb of Ceres shows a section...

This close-up image shows Occator crater and a cluster of bright spots. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA.

NASA Releases New Image of Ceres’ Enigmatic Bright Spots

Oct 27, 2015 by News Staff

NASA scientists, using a camera aboard the agency’s Dawn spacecraft, have created a stunning mosaic image of a small part of Ceres’ surface. The mosaic...