The forgotten Dwarf Planet-Ceres.
A. Definition of Ceres Is Pluto, the only dwarf in our Solar System?
Deep in the space hidden from our eyes lies a planet whose surface temperature reaches
a whopping maximum of 180 Kelvin and as low as 240 Kelvin.
Yes, We are talking about “The Forgotten Dwarf”, the largest object in the asteroid
belt lying between Mars and Jupiter.
Named after the Roman goddess of agriculture and discovered in 1801 by the Italian astronomer
Giuseppe Piazzi, Ceres is a perfectly spherical body despite being bombarded by thousands
of tiny asteroids daily.
It has been in discussion among scientists recently, as many believe Ceres is our best
occupancy option.
Ceres is believed to be the least geologically active body in the Solar System, with no evidence
of volcanism, tectonic activity, or significant erosion.
It has a low density and a low gravitational field, and its surface is covered in impact
craters, suggesting that it has been relatively inactive for billions of years.
B. Overview of Ceres Dwarf Planet is a designation given to celestial
bodies that are too small to be considered full-sized planets but have enough mass and
gravity to be nearly round.
Being the most massive object in the asteroid belt, it is also the first object in the asteroid
belt to be classified as a Dwarf Planet.
Ceres is the only Dwarf Planet in the inner Solar System.
Its surface is covered in impact craters, with some smooth areas that may have been
caused due to cryovolcanism.
Due to constant volcanic activities on the Planet, the surface appears shiny and dark
when observed through telescopes.
Ceres was formed 4.6 billion years ago, shortly after the formation of the solar system.
It is believed that it formed from the same material that came together to form the other
planets, moons, and asteroids in the region.
The formation of Ceres was likely aided by the gravitational pull of Jupiter and Saturn,
which caused the material in the asteroid belt to coalesce and form into the objects
that exist today.
II.
Physical Characteristics of Ceres A. Size and Mass
One of the striking features of Ceres is its colossal size compared to other objects in
the belt.
At five ninety miles in diameter, it is the largest object in the asteroid belt and roughly
the same size as the state of Texas.
Ceres is also much denser than most other asteroids, with a mass of about nine quintillion
tonnes, about a third of the entire asteroid belt’s mass.
Ceres is not a solid, rocky planet like Earth or Mars despite its size and density.
Instead, it is believed to be composed mainly of water ice, with a rocky core and a thin,
dusty mantle.
It is because Ceres has a surface temperature of about a hundred and eighty Kelvin, which
is too cold for liquid water to exist.
The water on Ceres is considered frozen solid, making it a "water world" in the same sense
as Europa and Enceladus, two of Jupiter's moons that are also considered to have large
amounts of water ice beneath their surfaces.
B. Surface Features of ceres
In 2015, NASA’s Dawn spacecraft arrived at ceres and began studying the Dwarf Planet
in detail.
The spacecraft found that the dwarf planet has two distinct types of terrain, one that
is heavily cratered and one that is relatively smooth.
The smooth terrain is thought to be the result of recent geological activity, possibly due
to the presence of a subsurface ocean.
The spacecraft also found that Ceres has a surprisingly diverse surface, with various
geological features such as mountains, craters, and plains.
One of the most fascinating features of Ceres is a series of bright, reflective spots discovered
on its surface.
These spots, which were thought to be salt deposits, are concentrated in a region called
Occator Crater, which is about 60 miles wide.
Scientists believe that the bright spots may be the result of saline water that was spewed
out by a meteor impact and that the water then froze and left behind the salt deposits.
Ceres is also home to some of the fascinating Geological Structures found in the Solar System.
1.
The Occator Crater is a massive impact crater located near the centre of Ceres, measuring
about 90 kilometres in diameter.
2.
Ahuna Mons: Ceres is also the home to one of the largest mountains in our Solar System
relative to its size.
This mountain, called Ahuna Mons, is about 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) tall and is thought
to be a cryovolcano or a volcano that erupts with water, ammonia, or other volatile substances
rather than molten rock.
Due to a large number of water resources on Ceres, it has always been a topic of discussion
among scientists.
Some scientists even believe that Ceres may be the perfect resource storage for us to
be used in future during Interstellar travel.
Indeed, owing to the large reserves of water present on this Planet, which may be mined
in the near future.
Ceres has been studied extensively over the past few decades, and scientists have learned
a great deal about its characteristics, composition, and geological history.
III.
Composition of Ceres
A. Internal Structure
Ceres has a differentiated internal structure, consisting of a silicate-rich crust, a mantle
of ice and volatile compounds, and a core composed of a mixture of rocky materials and
ice.
The crust is estimated to be around 30–40 km thick, while the mantle is believed to
be at least several hundred miles wide.
The core is thought to be roughly two hundred kilometres in diameter and may contain up
to thirty per cent of ice by mass.
Some scientists believe that Ceres may contain clues about the early Solar System as Ceres
and other objects in the asteroid belt are the remnants of the Solar System’s building
blocks.
B. Surface Composition The surface of Ceres consists primarily of
a mixture of water-ice, silicate rock, and organic compounds.
The exact composition of Ceres' surface varies across its surface, with some regions having
a higher percentage of the water-ice component.
In comparison, others may have a higher rate of the silicate rock component.
The organic compounds are mainly associated with a variety of craters, suggesting that
they were delivered to the surface through asteroid impacts.
The surface of Ceres is also believed to contain a variety of salts and other volatile materials,
including carbonates, sulfates, and nitrogen-bearing compounds.
These materials are thought to have been delivered to the surface over time by comet and asteroid
impacts.
IV.
Exploration of Ceres The Dawn Spacecraft played a vital role in
the determination of geographical conditions on Ceres.
Had it not been launched, you wouldn’t be watching this video.
The spacecraft conducted a detailed study of Ceres and its environment, allowing scientists
to understand better the dwarf planet's geology, composition, and history.
The Dawn mission revealed Ceres's weak atmosphere, primarily water vapour.
In addition, Dawn was the one to find evidence of ice on the surface of Ceres, suggesting
that the dwarf planet may contain a subsurface ocean of liquid water.
Recent observations from the Herschel Space Observatory have confirmed this possibility.
The Dawn mission also allowed scientists to map the surface of Ceres in detail.
In addition to the Dawn mission, other spacecraft have visited the dwarf planet.
In 2018, the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission conducted a flyby of Ceres, allowing
scientists to make detailed observations of the dwarf planet's surface.
Ceres continues to be one of the fascinating objects in the Solar System, and scientists
are sure to learn more as new missions are launched to study it.
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V. Conclusion Ceres is an intriguing and fascinating body
and is the only dwarf planet in the inner Solar System.
Its unique characteristics and geological history make it an important target for further
study.
With the help of spacecraft like Dawn, we can continue to learn more about this mysterious
world.
Despite this, its exact origin and history are still largely unknown.
Efforts are being made as we speak to have a complete overlook on Ceres.
It may not be a while, but soon, we may have significant knowledge about Ceres to specify
its significance to humans.
Overall, Ceres is an essential object in the solar system due to its size and composition.
Its existence has helped to shape our understanding of the solar system and its formation.