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Illuminating Ceres

Illuminating Ceres
Illuminating Ceres Ceres—the largest body between Mars and Jupiter—once defied categorization regarding its true nature. Is it a star, a planet, an asteroid, or a comet? Although scientists would eventually settle on “dwarf planet,” Dawn’s arrival will help us begin to understand Ceres. This enhanced-color close-up of Haulani crater shows smooth material and a central ridge on its floor, as well as evidence of landslides from its rim. The rays of bluish ejecta surrounding the crater indicate freshly exposed material. Haulani is 34 kilometers (21 miles) in diameter. Dawn captured this image from 1,470 kilometers (915 miles) above the surface. NASA / JPL-Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / Emily Lakdawalla