Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Occator Crater oblique view from south

Occator Crater oblique view from south
Occator Crater oblique view from south This simulated perspective view shows Occator Crater, measuring 57 miles (92 kilometers) across and 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) deep, which contains the brightest area on Ceres. This region has been the subject of intense interest since Dawn's approach to the dwarf planet in early 2015. This view, which faces north, was made using images from Dawn's low-altitude mapping orbit, 240 miles (385 kilometers) above Ceres. The still-mysterious bright areas are now known to be sodium carbonate. NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA