bornagainathiest Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2015/01200633-new-dawn-images-of-ceres.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurisaz Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 The Bad Astronomer is on it too. Cool stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymistake Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I hope we send something to orbit and make a detailed exploration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeCycle Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 I hope we find aliens. Hot, scantly clad, aliens!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overcame Faith Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 It's an exciting time in which we live. I think most of us remember when we were taught that our solar system was composed of the Sun, nine planets, some moons orbiting planets, various comets and asteroids, and debris between Mars and Jupiter. And here we have a craft approaching a dwarf planet!! Wow!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Furball Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Cool. I wonder what that bright spot is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornagainathiest Posted January 21, 2015 Author Share Posted January 21, 2015 Cool. I wonder what that bright spot is? My guess is "recently" excavated ice reflecting sunlight, CC. E.g., this... http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2009/24sep_martianice/ ...found on Mars back in '08. That martian ice disappears over time because it sublimes (turns directly to vapor without going thru a liquid phase) and/or gets covered up with dust transported by the martian atmosphere. But Ceres is millions of miles further away from the Sun than Mars, is colder and has no appreciable atmosphere to transport any dust. So when I say, 'recently' I'm guessing that a meteorite impact excavated a crater and exposed the sub-surface ice thousands or even millions of years ago. Anyway, we'll find out soon enough! Thanks, BAA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Furball Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Thanks for the info, I love learning. I would say you were right on about it being an ice reflection. Appreciate it BAA, thanks-CC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsathoggua Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 I hope we find aliens. Hot, scantly clad, aliens!!! I'm for that, as well! Nubile, sexy young things who desire nothing but virile earthling males, no matter how nerdy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurisaz Posted January 23, 2015 Share Posted January 23, 2015 Eh, and a corresponding supply of hunks for the non-lesbian ladies and the non-straight blokes. Let's be fair here and think of everyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thought2Much Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I hope we send something to orbit and make a detailed exploration. That's what Dawn is doing. It spent quite a while at Vesta, and it will also spend quite a bit of time around Ceres. This mission isn't just a flyby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bornagainathiest Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share Posted January 29, 2015 Update. http://www.universetoday.com/118533/dawn-captures-best-images-ever-of-hipster-planet-ceres/ . . . http://xkcd.com/1476/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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