The curiosity of Ceres ' surface were one of the highlight of 2015 , and it look like the style is set to keep into 2016 . The latest images are the closest pictures of the dwarf planet yet , take away by Dawn as the space vehicle reached its lowest - ever altitude , 385 kilometre ( 240 miles ) above the open .
" When we fix cruise for Ceres upon completing our Vesta exploration , we anticipate to be storm by what we encounter on our next check . Ceres did not let down , " Chris Russell , primary investigator for the Dawn mission , said in astatement .
" Everywhere we expect in these new low - altitude observations , we see amazing landforms that speak to the unique character of this most amazing populace . "
This range of a function from NASA ’s Dawn space vehicle shows Kupalo Crater , one of the young craters on Ceres . The volcanic crater has bright cloth exposed on its rim and walls , which could be salts . NASA / JPL - Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA
The image of Kupalo Crater has several interesting characteristics . The crater has shiny stuff on its brim , which could potentially be salts ; researchers think that this fabric is bear on to the outlandish “ smart spots ” located in the Occator Crater . Kupalo is one of the youngest craters on Ceres : it has a diam of 26 kilometers ( 16 international mile ) and its unconditional floor was most likely formed from the debris and the impact disappear . The picture of it has a resolution of 35 meters ( 120 human foot ) per pixel .
The fractured floor of Dantu Crater on Ceres is seen in this image from NASA ’s Dawn space vehicle . Several bright eyepatch can also be seen . NASA / JPL - Caltech / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA
" This crater and its recently - formed deposits will be a prime target of study for the squad as Dawn carry on to explore Ceres in its final mapping phase , " said Paul Schenk , a Dawn skill team member at the Lunar and Planetary Institute , Houston .
Dawn also managed to photograph the huge internet of fissure on the floor of Dantu Crater , which resemble the feature seen on Tycho Crater on our Moon . The cracking could have mold as the shock cooled or when the crater floor was force up after its constitution .
Dawn has not only been taking exposure but also providing scientist with a heap of information about the dwarf planet ’s constitution . Dawn ’s gamma light beam and neutron detector is examine the copiousness of element on Ceres ' aerofoil , and the visible and infrared spectrometer is using a multiwavelength approach to name the unlike minerals that form Ceres . The analysis will serve astronomers understand how Ceres ' theme evolve .
The space vehicle will remain at its current ALT indefinitely and , while the prime commission is due to end June 30 , 2016 , further action will in all likelihood be planned after . Dawnis the first mission to visit a dwarf satellite and the first mission to revolve two distinct Solar System object beyond the Earth - Moon organization , the other being the large asteroid Vesta .
