Dawn approaches Ceres
Posted: Tue, Mar 3, 2015, 7:27 AM ET (1227 GMT)
NASA's Dawn spacecraft is on track to enter orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres at the end of this week, project officials said Monday. Dawn will go into orbit around Ceres on Friday after using its ion thrusters to travel there from the lare asteroid Vesta. Ceres, the largest object in the main asteroid belt and designated a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union in 2006, appears to have signs of recent geological activity on its surface, scientists said, based on ever-improving images returned by Dawn. Of particular interest are bright spots recently detected on Ceres' surface, which may be patches of ice recently exposed by plumes or other geological activity.
NASA's Dawn spacecraft is on track to enter orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres at the end of this week, project officials said Monday. Dawn will go into orbit around Ceres on Friday after using its ion thrusters to travel there from the lare asteroid Vesta. Ceres, the largest object in the main asteroid belt and designated a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union in 2006, appears to have signs of recent geological activity on its surface, scientists said, based on ever-improving images returned by Dawn. Of particular interest are bright spots recently detected on Ceres' surface, which may be patches of ice recently exposed by plumes or other geological activity.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA to launch Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in September
Posted: Sat, Apr 25 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, April 27
Program: PNG Starlink ban to end after National Court ruling
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 5:26 am ET (0926 GMT) Starlink set to return to Papua New Guinea after court quashes ban, clearing path for connectivity
Radio New Zealand — 5:26 am ET (0926 GMT) U.S. Space Command Commander Gen. Stephen N. Whiting to Host Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Redstone Arsenal
US Space Command — 5:25 am ET (0925 GMT) Space Command facility ribbon cutting set for Wednesday
WAFF-TV — 5:25 am ET (0925 GMT) SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base Sunday morning
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 5:24 am ET (0924 GMT) |
