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Ceres
Jan 23, 2015 10:21:52 GMT -6
lois likes this
Post by swamprat on Jan 23, 2015 10:21:52 GMT -6
NASA Finds Mysterious Bright Spot on Dwarf Planet Ceres: What Is It? by Calla Cofield, Space.com Staff Writer January 23, 2015 A strange, flickering white blotch found on the dwarf planet Ceres by a NASA spacecraft has scientists scratching their heads.
The white spot on Ceres in a series of new photos taken on Jan. 13 by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which is rapidly approaching the round dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. But when the initial photo release on Monday (Jan. 19), the Dawn scientists gave no indication of what the white dot might be.
"Yes, we can confirm that it is something on Ceres that reflects more sunlight, but what that is remains a mystery," Marc Rayman, mission director and chief engineer for the Dawn mission, told Space.com in an email. The new images show areas of light and dark on the face of Ceres, which indicate surface features like craters. But at the moment, none of the specific features can be resolved, including the white spot.
"We do not know what the white spot is, but it's certainly intriguing," Rayman said. "In fact, it makes you want to send a spacecraft there to find out, and of course that is exactly what we are doing! So as Dawn brings Ceres into sharper focus, we will be able to see with exquisite detail what [the white spot] is."
Ceres is a unique object in our solar system. It is the largest object in the asteroid belt and is classified as an asteroid. It is simultaneously classified as a dwarf planet, and at 590 miles across (950 kilometers, or about the size of Texas), Ceres is the smallest known dwarf planet in the solar system.
The $466 million Dawn spacecraft is set to enter into orbit around Ceres on March 6. Dawn left Earth in 2007 and in the summer of 2011, it made a year-long pit stop at the asteroid Vesta, the second largest object in the asteroid belt.
While Vesta shared many properties with our solar system's inner planets, scientists with the Dawn mission suspect that Ceres has more in common with the outer most planets. 25 percent of Ceres' mass is thought to be composed of water, which would mean the space rock contains even more fresh water than Earth. Scientists have observed water vapor plumes erupting off the surface of Ceres, which may erupt from volcano-like ice geysers.
The mysterious white spot captured by the Dawn probe is one more curious feature of this already intriguing object.www.space.com/28336-mysterious-white-spot-on-ceres.html
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Ceres
Feb 26, 2015 13:37:07 GMT -6
Post by auntym on Feb 26, 2015 13:37:07 GMT -6
www.aol.com/article/2015/02/26/nasas-dawn-spacecraft-spots-two-bright-points-on-ceres/21147062/?icid=maing-grid7|maing11|dl21|sec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D619509 NASA's Dawn spacecraft spots two bright points on CeresFeb 26th 2015 The Dawn spacecraft has spotted not one, but two bright points on the minor planet Ceres. Newly enhanced images from the probe show two shining spots on the surface. It's not clear exactly what they are, since we can't get a closer look. Ceres is a minor planet in the asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter. Dawn is speeding its way toward a rendezvous, but it's got a way to go. These latest images are from 29,000 miles away. NASA's Chris Russell theorizes the two spots might be volcanic in origin, since they both sit in the same crater. Or, as he tells NBC, they could be ice: especially since "the material reflects 40 percent or more of the light falling on it." In any case, the images are a significant improvement over what scientists were working with before. Until Dawn got into range, all they had to go on were low-resolution shots from the Hubble Space Telescope. Ceres will be Dawn's second target during its now eight-year mission. In 2011 the spacecraft orbited Vesta, another ancient protoplanet thought to carry clues to the formation of the early solar system. Dawn is scheduled to arrive at Ceres on March 6. WATCH VIDEO: www.aol.com/article/2015/02/26/nasas-dawn-spacecraft-spots-two-bright-points-on-ceres/21147062/?icid=maing-grid7|maing11|dl21|sec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D619509
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Post by auntym on Mar 23, 2015 14:35:27 GMT -6
www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/03/22/ceres_new_pictures_will_come_soon.htmlMarch 22 2015
Where Are the Pictures of Ceres?By Phil Plait Alien bases on Ceres or an as-yet unexplained but totally rational geological phenomenon? Guess. Photo by NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA I’ve been getting some emails and tweets asking why, if the Dawn spacecraft entered orbit around Ceres on March 6, haven’t we seen any new close-up pictures for nearly three weeks? The answer is not that NASA is covering up alien bases or Obama’s birth certificate or any other such nonsense. It’s actually due to gravity and chemistry. Dawn doesn’t use conventional chemical rocket thrusters. While these can provide a lot of oomph, the fuel is heavy, which means you need to carry more fuel to carry that fuel, and so on. You can change directions quickly, but the cost is dedicating more of your precious payload mass to fuel instead of scientific equipment. Instead, Dawn uses ion thrusters, which use complex electric fields to fling ionized atoms out the back end at high speed. The thrust is a lot lower, but you use fuel so efficiently you can literally keep your engines on for months at a time. In the end, you get the same ability to change the direction and speed of your spacecraft; it’s just a lot more gentle and takes a lot longer. CONTINUE READING: www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/03/22/ceres_new_pictures_will_come_soon.html
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Ceres
Mar 23, 2015 14:50:03 GMT -6
Post by auntym on Mar 23, 2015 14:50:03 GMT -6
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Ceres
Apr 30, 2015 13:40:36 GMT -6
Post by auntym on Apr 30, 2015 13:40:36 GMT -6
www.theufochronicles.com/2015/04/aliens-on-ceres-nasa-welcomes-public.html www.openminds.tv/aliens-on-ceres-nasa-welcomes-public-speculation/33285 Thursday, April 30, 2015 Aliens on Ceres? NASA Welcomes Public Speculation Posted by: Jason McClellan / www.openminds.tv/author/admin April 28, 2015 That bright mysterious spot on Ceres is still a mystery. And, although the source of this illuminated area has already been the subject of much speculation, NASA is now requesting public supposition. NASA’s Dawn spacecraft is in orbit around Ceres, the dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, which happens to be the largest body in that asteroid belt. Before entering orbit, Dawn photographed the planet, and those captured images reveal the strange illuminated area, which is actually composed of two bright spots within the same basin on the surface. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA) Speculation about the source of these unusual lights began immediately after Dawn’s photos were published by NASA. Puzzled scientists suggested a volcano, or light reflections off ice or water vapor as possible explanations. And others offered up the possibility that this illuminated region could be an extraterrestrial civilization. The predictions continue to swirl. And, until Dawn can gather more data, NASA wants to know what you think is responsible for Ceres’ bright spot. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory launched a website on which visitors can share their suppositions regarding the bright spot on Ceres. The site states: Can you guess what’s creating those unusual bright spots on Ceres? On March 6, NASA’s Dawn spacecraft began orbiting Ceres, the largest body in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Even before the spacecraft arrived at the dwarf planet, images revealed mysterious bright spots that captivated scientists and observers alike. Until Dawn gets a closer look over the next few months, it’s anyone’s guess what those spots could be. So, go ahead! Cast your vote Visitors can select between a volcano, a geyser, a rock, ice, salt deposits, or “other.” An alien civilization best fits in the “other” category, obviously. And, at the time of this story’s publication, the “other” option has 29% of the votes, bested only by “ice,” which has 33% of the votes. CLICK TO VOTE: www.jpl.nasa.gov/dawn/world_ceres/# MORE: www.openminds.tv/aliens-on-ceres-nasa-welcomes-public-speculation/33285 LEARN MORE ABOUT CERES: dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/science/ceres.html
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Ceres
May 18, 2015 15:08:37 GMT -6
Post by auntym on May 18, 2015 15:08:37 GMT -6
mysteriousuniverse.org/2015/05/ufo-spotted-circling-mysterious-lights-on-ceres/ UFO Spotted Circling Mysterious Lights on Ceres May 17, 2015 by Paul Seaburn / mysteriousuniverse.org/author/paulseaburn/ The mysterious lights on the dwarf planet Ceres are apparently of interest to more than just the Dawn spacecraft currently in orbit around it. New photographs of the lights show what appears to be a UFO circling the area and performing some impressive maneuvers. Is NASA going to make a statement on this one or resort to another viewer poll? The UFO can be seen in the latest set of images released by NASA earlier this month. Those are the ones showing that what was first believed to be two lights on the surface of Ceres turned out to be lots and lots of lights. While most reports refer to them as “lights,” NASA wants us to think of them as reflections off of ice or some other naturally reflective matter. And to show how surprised and puzzled its scientists are, NASA has set up a web site to collect votes on what the rest of us think the lights/reflections/ might be (“Other” is still in the lead). VOTE: www.jpl.nasa.gov/dawn/world_ceres/The two photos show the oblong-shaped UFO moving from one side of the lights to the other and apparently making a half turn in the process. The change in perspective could account for the differences in the shape of the UFO from the first photo to the second. It could also mean that the UFO is circling the lights and keeping its own window/observation portal/camera trained on the lights … or on Dawn. NASA hasn’t said anything about these spots so we’re free to speculate. If it’s not a UFO, perhaps it’s some space debris or meteor remnants that just happened to be floating by. It could be a shadow – some say of the Dawn spacecraft itself – but it seems strange that no other shadows or UFOs shaped like shadows have been spotted. A camera glitch? Maybe a really tiny alien spacecraft landed on the lens and is observing Dawn. CONTINUE & MORE PHOTOS: mysteriousuniverse.org/2015/05/ufo-spotted-circling-mysterious-lights-on-ceres/
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Ceres
Jun 11, 2015 10:41:38 GMT -6
Post by swamprat on Jun 11, 2015 10:41:38 GMT -6
NASA Gets Best View Yet of Mysterious Bright Spots on Ceres by Mike Wall, Space.com Senior Writer June 11, 2015
NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained this image of the brightest spots on dwarf planet Ceres on June 6, 2015, from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). Image released June 10, 2015. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA
NASA's Dawn spacecraft has snapped the best-ever images of the dwarf planet Ceres' bright spots, but the strange features still have researchers scratching their heads.
The new photos resolve the' bright spots on Ceres into numerous points of varying sizes. The brightest ones lie within a crater about 55 miles (90 kilometers) wide, researchers said. You can see a video tour of Ceres' strange white spots on Space.com that shows how the odd features have come into focus for Dawn over the last two months.
"The bright spots in this configuration make Ceres unique from anything we've seen before in the solar system. The science team is working to understand their source," Dawn principal investigator Chris Russell of UCLA said in a statement. "Reflection from ice is the leading candidate in my mind, but the team continues to consider alternate possibilities, such as salt."
Dawn captured the images this month from its second mapping orbit of Ceres, an orbit that lies about 2,700 miles (4,400 km) above the surface of the heavily cratered world. But the probe will soon get even closer to the dwarf planet — close enough, perhaps, to take the bright spots' measure at last.
On June 28, Dawn will begin spiraling down to an orbit with an altitude of 900 miles (1,450 km), finally getting there in early August. (It takes Dawn a while to get around because the probe is powered by superefficient but low-thrust ion engines.)
"With closer views from the new orbit and multiple view angles, we soon will be better able to determine the nature of this enigmatic phenomenon," Russell said in the same statement.
The $473 million Dawn mission launched in September 2007 to study Ceres and Vesta, the two largest objects in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Ceres is about 590 miles (950 km) wide, while Vesta's diameter is 330 miles (530 km).
www.space.com/29633-ceres-bright-spots-dawn-photos.html
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Ceres
Jun 16, 2015 16:38:03 GMT -6
lois likes this
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2015 16:38:03 GMT -6
Fly over Dwarf Planet Ceres
NASA JET PROPULSION LABORATORY-JPL
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2015 3:55:31 GMT -6
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Ceres
Jul 5, 2015 10:53:53 GMT -6
Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2015 10:53:53 GMT -6
I've been reading about this..color me vewwwwwwwwwwwy intrigued
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Ceres
Jul 14, 2015 23:08:04 GMT -6
Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2015 23:08:04 GMT -6
Another pic of "the conical mountain".
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Ceres
Jul 15, 2015 9:32:57 GMT -6
Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2015 9:32:57 GMT -6
Looks like a pimple
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Ceres
Jul 15, 2015 21:07:36 GMT -6
Post by skywalker on Jul 15, 2015 21:07:36 GMT -6
Texas is bigger than a planet. Ha!
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Ceres
Aug 29, 2015 13:38:05 GMT -6
Post by auntym on Aug 29, 2015 13:38:05 GMT -6
www.universetoday.com/122052/ceres-pyramid-gets-a-closer-look-but-bright-spots-remain-a-mystery/ Ceres’ “Pyramid” Gets a Closer Look, But Bright Spots Remain a Mysteryby Nancy Atkinson August 26, 2015 NASA’s Dawn spacecraft spotted this tall, conical mountain on Ceres from a distance of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). The mountain, located in the southern hemisphere, stands 4 miles (6 kilometers) high. Its perimeter is sharply defined, with almost no accumulated debris at the base of the brightly streaked slope. The image was taken on August 19, 2015.Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The Dawn spacecraft is now orbiting just 1,470 kilometers (915 miles) above Ceres’ surface, and the science team released these latest images. Above is a closest view yet of the so-called ‘pyramid’ on Ceres, although the closer Dawn gets, the less this feature looks like a pyramid. It’s actually more like a conical mountain with a flat top, almost like a butte. And if you’re like me and you see a crater instead of a mountain, just turn the picture over (or stand on your head). Below, we’ve turned the image upside down for you: An upside down look at the conical mountain on Ceres (in case you have trouble seeing it as a mountain!). Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The mountain is located in the southern hemisphere, and stands 6 kilometers (4 miles) high. Visible on the sides of the mountain are narrow braided fractures and an intriguing bright area. Only time will tell if this bright region is similar to the mysterious bright spots seen in previous Dawn images of Ceres. The team released additional images as well. As Dawn slowly moves ever-closer to Ceres surface, the team says the spacecraft is performing well. “Dawn is performing flawlessly in this new orbit as it conducts its ambitious exploration. The spacecraft’s view is now three times as sharp as in its previous mapping orbit, revealing exciting new details of this intriguing dwarf planet,” said Marc Rayman, Dawn’s chief engineer and mission director, based at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Dawn is currently taking images to try and map the entire surface. This will 11 days at this altitude and each 11-day cycle consists of 14 orbits. Over the next two months, the spacecraft will map the entirety of Ceres six times. MORE PHOTOS & CONTINUE WATCHING: www.universetoday.com/122052/ceres-pyramid-gets-a-closer-look-but-bright-spots-remain-a-mystery/
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Ceres
Oct 7, 2015 12:01:48 GMT -6
Post by auntym on Oct 7, 2015 12:01:48 GMT -6
www.ancient-code.com/alien-life-on-ceres-new-evidence-points-towards-intelligent-life-on-the-dwarf-planet/
Alien Life on Ceres: New evidence points towards intelligent life on the dwarf planetOctober 7, 2015 NASA has tried really hard to understand all the enigmas surrounding the dwarf planet Ceres. Ever since the first image was beamed back by NASA’s Dawn Spacecraft scientists around the world have tried to explain all the mysteries about one of the most interesting dwarf planets in the solar system. But what makes Ceres so unique? Well we could say that the mysterious bright lights that were spotted on the surface of Ceres are the most talked about mystery surrounding Ceres. The truth is that no one has been able to accurately explain what the mysterious lights are, what causes them, and why they are not present anywhere else. The first high-resolution images of the surface of the dwarf planet arrived to Earth in January 19, 2015 and since then everyone started talking about the unique and mysterious features of Ceres. Ok so, what do the lights look like? Well, to be honest if you compare the image of the bright lights on Ceres to an image of a city on Earth, taken from Space, I’d say that the two look very much alike… It’s as if we are looking at an Alien city on Ceres… But optical illusion can play around with your mind. While no one can rule out at this point an alien city on Ceres, no one can rule out Pareidolia either. Let’s compare the bright spots on Ceres with an image of a city on Earth as seen from space: Ummm… Is that an Alien city on Ceres? As if the mysterious bright lights of Ceres weren’t enough, there is more about Ceres that could creep you out. New images of the dwarf planet show what appears to be a pyramid-shaped structure located on a flat landscape. According to scientists, that mysterious pyramid should be there geologically speaking. The ‘Ceres pyramid’ measures around 3 miles in height, but the size of the ‘pyramid’ isn’t the most mysterious part of the story. What has caused even greater confusion is the fact that one side of the oddly shaped mountain is nearly completely dark on one side while the other side glows just like the bright spots on the dwarf planet. So what is causing the bright spots to shine like that? And why is there a pyramid in the middle of nowhere? CONTINUE READING: www.ancient-code.com/alien-life-on-ceres-new-evidence-points-towards-intelligent-life-on-the-dwarf-planet/
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Ceres
Apr 24, 2016 13:08:12 GMT -6
Post by skywalker on Apr 24, 2016 13:08:12 GMT -6
Here is an even closer close-up view of the bright spots. www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2016-106It looks to me like the bright stuff might be caused by melted glass made from the soil the fused together during the impact, either that or it is still molten lava that is still seeping out of the bottom of the crater. Those are very young impact sites.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2016 16:50:14 GMT -6
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