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Ceres Bright Spots Keep Their Secret Even From 2,700 miles Up
universetoday.com ^ | on June 10, 2015 | Bob King

Posted on 06/10/2015 8:10:52 PM PDT by BenLurkin

Naturally, when you try to capture details in something bright, your background will go dark. But that might be what’s needed here – a change in exposure to reveal more detail in the spots at the expense of the landscape. Doubtless NASA will release enlarged and detailed images of these enigmatic dots later this summer.....

Scientists still don’t understand the nature of the spot cluster, but reflective ice or salt remain the strongest possibilities.

“The bright spots in this configuration make Ceres unique from anything we’ve seen before in the solar system,” said Chris Russell, principal investigator for the Dawn mission. “The science team is working to understand their source. Reflection from ice is the leading candidate in my mind, but the team continues to consider alternate possibilities, such as salt.”

It’s interesting to compare and contrast Ceres with Dawn’s first target asteroid, Vesta. Craters of every size dominate both small worlds, but Ceres shows evidence of a more activity in the form of relaxed crater rims (possibly due to ice deformation), landslides and collapsed structures.

(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy
KEYWORDS: 2112; ceres; rush
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To: Red Badger

Is that a sandworm from Dune or have the Jawas started painting their crawlers red?


41 posted on 06/11/2015 2:03:24 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: piasa

The spice must floooooooow...........


42 posted on 06/11/2015 2:05:19 PM PDT by Red Badger (Man builds a ship in a bottle. God builds a universe in the palm of His hand.............)
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To: Fry Panny
Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Number One in the hood, G!

43 posted on 06/11/2015 2:05:46 PM PDT by Constitution Day (Ran When Parked)
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To: Red Badger

Maybe it’s magma glowing through a hole in the crust.


44 posted on 06/11/2015 2:06:17 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: PA Engineer

A galactic pigeon sounds cool...

http://www.ppspigeons.tw/GalaxyLoft.php


45 posted on 06/11/2015 2:11:33 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: Red Badger

Through that whole movie all I could think of was cinnamon rolls.


46 posted on 06/11/2015 2:12:49 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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