Pluto might have steal the midget planet spotlight , but 2015 was also the yr we started explore Ceres , the only dwarf major planet in the inner Solar System and the largest physical object in the asteroid belt ammunition .
For just over a year , NASA’sDawn spacecrafthas been study Ceres in detail and has pick up incredible feature . Among these , it found Ahuna Mons – a large , dome - shaped mountain .
Dawn ’s late image of Ahuna Mons shows an incredible geologic formation . The mountain has an average height of 4 kilometers ( 2.5 miles ) , although its unconscionable side is about 5 kilometers ( 3 miles ) . This is extraordinary considering the dwarf major planet is only about 900 kilometers ( 560 air mile ) in diam .
" No one expected a mountain on Ceres , particularly one like Ahuna Mons , " enunciate Chris Russell , Dawn ’s principal investigator , in astatement . " We still do not have a satisfactory model to excuse how it formed . "
" Ceres has defied our expectations and surprised us in many ways , thanks to a class ’s worth of data from Dawn , " added Carol Raymond , deputy chief investigator for the mission , based at NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory ( JPL ) in Pasadena , California . " We are hard at work on the enigma the spacecraft has salute to us . "
Ahuna Mons has another curious feature : Its slopes are not the same vividness . Some of them are pass over in a bright textile similar in appearance to the mysteriousbright spotsfound in the famous Occator Crater . novel finding of the spot and more penetration into Ceres will be presented at the 47th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference .
" Dawn began mapping Ceres at itslowest altitudein December , but it was n’t until very late that its orbital path allowed it to take in Occator ’s hopeful area , " said Marc Rayman , Dawn ’s chief engine driver and mission managing director at JPL . " This dwarf planet is very large and it takes a great many orbital revolutions before all of it comes into view of Dawn ’s camera and other sensors . "
Ceres ’ primary missionary work will finish on June 30 , but further activity will likely be planned for after that escort .
