What is flashing us from mysterious dwarf planet? Riddle of Ceres' deepens .. ANOTHER flashing mark

www.dailymail.co.uk ^ | 02-27-2015 | By Ellie Zolfagharifard

[Red Badger]

Ceres continues to baffle astronomers as the Dawn spacecraft gets closer to being captured into orbit around the dwarf planet.

The latest images, taken nearly 29,000 miles (46,000km) from Ceres, reveal that a bright 'alien' spot that stands out in previous images lies close to yet another bright area.

While Nasa has not provided an explanation, scientists suggest these spots may be frozen pools of ice at the bottom of a crater that reflect light.

'Right now, all we can say is that the material reflects 40 per cent or more of the light falling on it,' UCLA astronomer Chris Russell, the principal investigator for the Dawn mission, told NBC News.

'This limit is because of the resolution of the camera at this distance from Ceres. If the final answer is that it reflects all the light that falls on it, then the most probable reflector would be ice.'

He added that there may be a volcano-like origin of the spots, but that Nasa will have to wait for better resolution before we can make such geologic interpretations.

Using its ion propulsion system, Dawn will enter orbit around Ceres on March 6.

When it does, it will become the first human-made probe to visit the 'Death Star' planet - and scientists hope it will uncover the secrets behind its mysterious white spot.

[RoosterRedux]

But in the picture posted the light is coming from the left. not direct on.

My thoughts also. If it were solar reflection, the camera would have to be much, much more to the right of where it is.

[Vaquero]

[Red Badger]

Read a Sci-fi novel once, can’t remember the author, since I read so many, where the first manned Mars mission turned into a rescue mission of an alien that was trapped on one of Mars moons. The alien was part of a duo that had been stationed on the moon and was supposed to protect Earth from incoming comets and asteroids. The elder of the two aliens died and the younger one didn’t know what to do, so he sent out telepathic messages to people on Earth and the space craft to come and get him. The Earth people thought they were going nuts....................

[dfwgator]

“My God it’s full of stars.”

[Red Badger]

We should rename Ceres in honor of him......................

[Zuben Elgenubi]

That’s a good idea, RB.

[The Cajun]

And than, “Occam's Razor” is not always right :)

[Uversabound]

Urantia Book Ping!

One scenario suggests as the giant planets migrated they disturbed populations of small rocky and icy asteroids and comets which hit the early Earth and Moon - delivering organic molecules and water to Earth.

Oh, is that the combination that starts life? I think something is missing? Hmmmmm........

[chrisser]

We should rename Ceres in honor of him.

Leonard isn't all that cool of a planet name...j/k.

[McGruff]

My first thought was that we were seeing right into the planet's core.

Maybe I was right.

[tet68]

I can almost make out the letters
HOLLYWOOD.

[Red Badger]

The simplest explanation is right most of the time..............

[Red Badger]

SPOCK..............................

[molson209]

15 Pixels ?

[spokeshave]

OMG...its the death star firing up....and in our direction....

[Red Badger]

But they are BIG pixels...................

[molson209]

Ceres is smaller than Earth so the Pixels would be bigger , LOL

[McGruff]

IT'S A TRAP

[The Cajun]

But in the picture posted the light is coming from the left. not direct on.

Photons doing a bank shot with high left hand English?

[NormsRevenge]

YUp.. The fellars in that thing are using advanced cloaking technology.. Just like UFOs and a fair and unbiased media&press use to disappear quick.