The bright spots on the latest photos Ceres – Science in Poland (PAP)

 In the pictures the dwarf planet Ceres made by the Dawn spacecraft on the surface of the object are visible bright spots. Photos presented the US space agency NASA.
 

  These are some of the first pictures obtained in the course of overcoming the second orbit at an altitude of 4400 km of Ceres. You can see craters dotted the surface, but pay special attention to bright spots in a large crater with a diameter of 90 km. Stains are composed of many small bright spots of different sizes.

  

  So far, scientists have not found an explanation for the presence of these stains. As says Chris Russell of the University of California, Los Angeles, Dawn mission science manager, bright spots in this configuration, Ceres makes a unique place, because nothing like this has been observed so far in the solar system.

  

  Among the proposed explanations of bright areas in the event of a leading hypothesis indicates the presence of ice. But it is also possible presence of salt. The researchers hope that the pictures made with a smaller distance will aim to clarify the mystery.

  

  Like the previously tested by the probe Dawn in 2011 and 2012 asteroid Vesta, Ceres also is covered with craters, but it seems that in the case of Ceres we have to deal with greater activity on the surface with signs of movement, landslides and the collapse of various structures. Additionally, photos taken on May 16 spectrometer operating in the visible and infrared, showing a fragment of the northern hemisphere covered with craters, provided the temperature map. Temperature data obtained from the infrared range.

  

  Dawn probe has reached the current orbit around Ceres on June 3. Defeating one lap around Ceres poll takes about three days. From a distance of 4400 km above the surface will investigate until 28 June. Then Dawn will approach even closer to the object and in early August continues to circulate at an altitude of 1450 km.

  

  Dawn is the mission of the American space agency NASA. As the first spacecraft in history reached on 6 March 2015. In the vicinity of the dwarf planet – Ceres. In addition, the previously he examined closely the asteroid Vesta, sending tens of thousands of photos, and many other scientific data. (PAP)

  

  connectors / MRT /