The Largest Asteroids Solar System - The Asteroid Belt Giuseppe Piazzi discovered 1 Ceres in 1801, and at first it was considered to be the eighth planet; Neptune and Pluto had not been discovered. It was the first asteroid to be discovered, and is the largest found to date. It is near spherical, 975 km (606 miles) across at the equator, with a polar diameter of 909 km (565 miles). It is the only asteroid considered a dwarf planet, although it is the smallest dwarf planet. Its shape suggests that it has a differentiated interior, similar to the Earth and other rocky planets, with a rocky inner core and a thin, outer crust. Ceres may have large deposits of water ice under its crust because as its density is rather low. There is also evidence that the surface contains water-bearing minerals. It is possible that Ceres could have more water than all the fresh water on Earth, but as a layer of water ice in the mantle wrapped around the core. Ceres contains almost a third of the mass of the entire asteroid belt.

Planetary astronomers generally believe Ceres formed as a protoplanet in the early days of the solar system, but did not merge with other protoplanets in the same way that, for example, the Earth did. Its orbit takes it from 2.5468 AU to 2.9858 AU from the Sun. It takes 4.6 years to go once around the sun. The Largest Asteroids 704 Interamnia is about 350.3 x 303.6 km, with an average diameter of 326 km. It represents about 1.2% of the total mass of the asteroid belt. Its orbit is moderately eccentric varying between 2.601 AU and 3.522 AU, and takes about 5.36 years to go around the Sun. 1 Ceres 4 Vesta Discovered not long after Ceres, in 1807, 4 Vesta was the fourth found, and is the second largest asteroid, by weight. It is elongated, about 580 km by 460 km (360 by 285 miles).

It represents about 9% of the total mass of the asteroid belt objects. Within the last billion years, Vesta suffered a catastrophic collision that left a crater at its south pole that is about 460 km across, and blew about 1% of its entire mass into space. The remaining fragments, at least 235 found to date, together with Vesta, comprise the Vesta group of asteroids. Some fragments are believed to be the source of the HED meteorites, many of which found their way to the Earth and have been recovered. Its slightly eccentric orbit takes it from 2.151 AU to 2.572 AU from the Sun. It takes 3.63 years to go once around the sun. 2 Pallas was discovered in 1802, and is about 580 km by 500 km (average 544 km), making it comparable in size to Vesta, but it is substantially lighter being about 7% of the mass of the asteroids.

It has an eccentric orbit around the sun, varying from 2.132 AU to 3.412 AU, which is substantially inclined to the plane of the main asteroid belt by nearly 35°. 2 Pallas 10 Hygiea 10 Hygiea, discovered in 1849, is the fourth largest of the asteroids, and is also elongated, about 530 x 407 x 370 km (average 431 km). Its orbit is somewhat eccentric, taking it from 2.77 AU to 3.507 AU, and it goes around the Sun every 5.56 years. It is the largest asteroid in the Hygiea family representing more than 90% of the mass of the family. 704 Interamnia 52 Europa is an elongated asteroid some 360 x 315 x 240 km. It has a low density, and is porous. Its slightly eccentric orbit takes it from 2.785 AU out to 3.417 AU, and it goes once around the Sun every 5.46 years.

52 Europa 511 Davida is an elongated asteroid some 357 x 294 x 231 km. Its slightly eccentric orbit takes it from 2.58 AU out to 3.754 AU, and it goes once around the Sun every 5.64 years. It is believed to have a massive impact crater on its surface about 150 km in diameter. 511 Davida 87 Sylvia is a low density, elongated asteroid some 384 x 262 x 232 km. Its slightly eccentric orbit takes it from 3.213 AU out to 3.768 AU, and it goes once around the Sun every 6.52 years. Sylvia has two small moons called Romulus and Remus. Romulus is about 18 km in diameter and orbits at a distance of 1356 km every 87.59 hours. Remus, the second moon is 7 km in diameter and orbits at a distance of 706 5 km every 33.09 h.

87 Sylvia 65 Cybele is about 302 x 290 x 232 km. Its slightly eccentric orbit takes it from 3.073 AU out to 3.794 AU, and it goes once around the Sun every 6.36 years. 65 Cybele 15 Eunomia is an elongated asteroid some 357 by 255 by 212 km. Its slightly eccentric orbit takes it from 2.149 AU out to 33.138 AU, and it goes once around the Sun every 4.3 years. 15 Eunomia Largest Asteroid in the Solar System - Universe Today Universe Today Largest Asteroid in the Solar System Article Updated: 24 Dec , 2015 by Jerry Coffey [/caption]The largest asteroid in the Solar System is 4 Vesta. Ceres is much more massive, but has been promoted to dwarf planet status, leaving Vesta the largest asteroid. Ceres and Vesta will be orbited and studied by the Dawn spacecraft.

Vesta was first discovered on March 29, 1807 by Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers. The asteroid measures 578 km by 458 km and has a mass of 2.67 x 1020 kg. It has a magnitude of +5.4 to +8.5 and can be easily observed with binoculars on a clear night. It has been seen with the unaided eye on several occasions. Vesta rotates on its axis every 5.342 hours and has an axial tilt of 29º. Temperatures on the surface range from a frigid -188ºC (85 K) to -18ºC (255 K). Hubble images have revealed ancient lava flows. This is a direct contradiction of the belief that asteroids are simple cold, dead rocks floating in space. There is a gigantic impact basin so deep that it exposes the asteroid’s mantle at the South pole. The mantle is thought to be 10 km below the asteroid’s surface. Several NASA scientists have concluded that Vesta is the parent body of many meteorites.

That means that we have parts of only five celestial bodies here on Earth: Earth(obviously), the Moon, Mars, Vesta, and the comet Wild 2. Vesta is the parent body of the eucrite meteorite group. The group formed approximately 4.56 billion years ago. Many of them metamorphosed to temperatures up to 800° C and were brecciated and heated by large impacts into the parent body surface. The less common basaltic, unbrecciated eucrites also formed near the surface, but presumably escaped later brecciation. The cumulate eucrites formed at a depth where metamorphism may have persisted for an undetermined amount of time. These meteorites may have originated from the large impact at the south pole of the asteroid. The Dawn mission is designed to be the first spacecraft to orbit two non-Earth objects. It arrived in orbit around Vesta on July 15, 2011. It will study the largest asteroid in the Solar System for about a year before leaving orbit for Ceres in 2012. Vesta was chosen as a destination because of its unique qualities.

It accounts for 9% of the mass in the main asteroid belt and it is an evolved object(has a mantle, core, and crust). NASA scientists fully expect to make several interesting discoveries from the study of Vesta. Be sure to check back later for updates. Here’s more on Vesta from Solar Views , and some images from NASA . We have recorded a whole series of podcasts about the Solar System at Astronomy Cast . Check them out here. Sources: Asteroids l Asteroid facts, pictures and information News Asteroids On the first day of January 1801, Giuseppe Piazzi discovered an object which he first thought was a new comet. But after its orbit was better determined it was clear that it was not a comet but more like a small planet. Piazzi named it Ceres, after the Sicilian goddess of grain. Three other small bodies were discovered in the next few years (Pallas, Vesta, and Juno). By the end of the 19th century there were several hundred. Asteroid History Several hundred thousand asteroids have been discovered and given provisional designations so far. Thousands more are discovered each year. There are undoubtedly hundreds of thousands more that are too small to be seen from the Earth .

There are 26 known asteroids larger than 200 km in diameter. Our census of the largest ones is now fairly complete: we probably know 99% of the asteroids larger than 100 km in diameter. Of those in the 10 to 100 km range we have cataloged about half. But we know very few of the smaller ones; there are probably considerably more than a million asteroids in the 1 km range. The total mass of all the asteroids is less than that of the Moon . 11 comets and asteroids have been explored by spacecraft so far, as follows: ICE flyby of Comet Giacobini-Zinner. Multiple flyby missions to Comet Halley. Giotto (retarget) to Comet Grigg-Skellerup. Galileo flybys of asteroids Gaspra and Ida (and Ida satellite Dactyl). NEAR-Shoemaker flyby of asteroid Mathilde on the way to orbit and land on Eros. DS-1 flybys of asteroid Braille and Comet Borrelly. Stardust flyby of asteroid Annefrank and recent sample collection from Comet Wild 2.

For future we can expect: Hayabusa (MUSES-C) to asteroid Itokawa, Rosetta to Comet Churyumov-Gerasmenko, Deep Impact to Comet Tempel 1, and Dawn to orbit asteroids Vesta and Ceres. 243 Ida and 951 Gaspra were photographed by the Galileo spacecraft on its way to Jupiter. The NEAR mission flew by 253 Mathilde (left) on 1997 June 27 returning many images. NEAR (now renamed "NEAR-Shoemaker") entered orbit around 433 Eros (right) in January 1999 and returned a wealth of images and data. At the end of its mission it actually landed on Eros. The largest asteroid by far is 1 Ceres. It is 974 km in diameter and contains about 25% of the mass of all the asteroids combined. The next largest are 2 Pallas, 4 Vesta and 10 Hygiea which are between 400 and 525 km in diameter. All other known asteroids are less than 340 km across.

There is some debate as to the classification of asteroids, comets and moons. There are many planetary satellites that are probably better thought of as captured asteroids. Mars 's tiny moons Deimos and Phobos , Jupiter 's outer eight moons , Saturn 's outermost moon, Phoebe , and perhaps some of the newly discovered moons of Saturn , Uranus and Neptune are all more similar to asteroids than to the larger moons. (The composite image at the top of this page shows Ida, Gaspra, Deimos and Phobos approximately to scale.) Asteroids are classified into a number of types according to their spectra (and hence their chemical composition) and albedo : C-type, includes more than 75% of known asteroids: extremely dark (albedo 0.03); similar to carbonaceous chondrite meteorites; approximately the same chemical composition as the Sun minus hydrogen, helium and other volatiles ; S-type, 17%: relatively bright (albedo .10-.22); metallic nickel-iron mixed with iron- and magnesium-silicates; M-type, most of the rest: bright (albedo .10-.18); pure nickel-iron.

There are also a dozen or so other rare types. Because of biases involved in the observations (e.g. the dark C-types are harder to see), the percentages above may not be representative of the true distribution of asteroids. (There are actually several classification schemes in use today.) There is little data about the densities of asteroids. But by sensing the Doppler effect on radio waves returning to Earth from NEAR owing to the (very slight) gravitational tug between asteroid and spacecraft, Mathilde's mass could be estimated. Surprisingly, its density turns out to be not much greater than that of water, suggesting that it is not a solid object but rather a compacted pile of debris. Asteroids are also categorized by their position in the solar system: Main Belt: located between Mars and Jupiter roughly 2 - 4 AU from the Sun; further divided into subgroups: Hungarias, Floras, Phocaea, Koronis, Eos, Themis, Cybeles and Hildas (which are named after the main asteroid in the group).

Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs): ones that closely approach the Earth Atens: semimajor axes less than 1.0 AU and aphelion distances greater than 0.983 AU; Apollos: semimajor axes greater than 1.0 AU and perihelion distances less than 1.017 AU Amors: perihelion distances between 1.017 and 1.3 AU; Trojans: located near Jupiter's Lagrange points (60 degrees ahead and behind Jupiter in its orbit). Several hundred such asteroids are now known; it is estimated that there may be a thousand or more altogether. Curiously, there are many more in the leading Lagrange point (L4) than in the trailing one (L5). (There may also be a few small asteroids in the Lagrange points of Venus and Earth (see Earth's Second Moon ) that are also sometimes known as Trojans ; 5261 Eureka is a "Mars Trojan".) Between the main concentrations of asteroids in the Main Belt are relatively empty regions known as the Kirkwood gaps. These are regions where an object's orbital period would be a simple fraction of that of Jupiter .

An object in such an orbit is very likely to be accelerated by Jupiter into a different orbit. There also a few "asteroids" (designated as "Centaurs") in the outer solar system: 2060 Chiron (aka 95 P/Chiron) orbits between Saturn and Uranus ; the orbit of 5335 Damocles ranges from near Mars to beyond Uranus; 5145 Pholus orbits from Saturn to past Neptune . There are probably many more, but such planet-crossing orbits are unstable and they are likely to be perturbed in the future. The composition of these objects is probably more like that of comets or the Kuiper Belt objects than that of ordinary asteroids. In particular, Chiron is now classified as a comet. 4Vesta has been studied recently with HST (left). It is a particularly interesting asteroid in that it seems to have been differentiated into layers like the terrestrial planets. This implies some internal heat source in addition to the heat released by long-lived radio-isotopes which alone would be insufficient to melt such a small object. There is also a gigantic impact basin so deep that it exposes the mantle beneath Vesta's outer crust.

Though they are never visible with the unaided eye, many asteroids are visible with binoculars or a small telescope. Asteroid table A few asteroids and comets are listed below for comparison. (distance is the mean distance to the Sun in thousands of kilometers; masses in kilograms). No. Name Distance Radius Mass Discoverer Date ---- --------- -------- ------ ------- ---------- ----- 2062 Aten 144514 0.5 ? Helin 1976 3554 Amun 145710 ? ? Shoemaker 1986 1566 Icarus 161269 0.7 ? Baade 1949 433 Eros 172800 33x13x13 Witt 1898 1862 Apollo 220061 0.7 ? Reinmuth 1932 2212 Hephaistos 323884 4.4 ? Chernykh 1978 951 Gaspra 330000 8 ?

Neujmin 1916 4 Vesta 353400 265 3.0e20 Olbers 1807 3 Juno 399400 123 ? Harding 1804 15 Eunomia 395500 136 8.3e18 De Gasparis 1851 1 Ceres 413900 487 8.7e20 Piazzi 1801 2 Pallas 414500 261 3.18e20 Olbers 1802 243 Ida 428000 35 ? ? 1880? 52 Europa 463300 156 ? Goldschmidt 1858 10 Hygiea 470300 215 9.3e19 De Gasparis 1849 511 Davida 475400 168 ?

Dugan 1903 911 Agamemnon 778100 88 ? Reinmuth 1919 2060 Chiron 2051900 85 ? Kowal 1977 More about asteroids What are the Largest Known Asteroids? (with pictures) What are the Largest Known Asteroids? Last Modified Date: 24 December 2016 Copyright Protected: These 10 facts about space will blow your mind The answer to this question depends on the definition of asteroid . If only objects within the asteroid belt between the orbit of Mars and Jupiter count, then the largest are Ceres , which is about 580 miles (930 km) across and considered a dwarf planet ; Vesta, which has a diameter of around 326 miles (525 km); and Pallas, which is about 338 miles (544 km) across, but has less mass than Vesta. These comprise 32%, 9%, and 7% of the asteroid belt's total mass, respectively.

If the definition is expanded to include all sub-planet, non- satellite objects in the solar system, including bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune, then the largest are Eris, another dwarf plant with a diameter around 1,445 miles (2,326 km); Pluto, which is about 1,433 miles (2,306 km) across; and Ceres, in that order. By comparison, the Earth has an average diameter of 7,917.5 miles (12,742 km). To get an idea of the size of the largest asteroids, a person can consider the largest one known to have hit the Earth: it was only about 6 miles (10 km) in diameter. This impact, thought to have occurred about 2 billion years ago, is represented by the Vredefort Crater in South Africa. A similar impact represented by the Sudbury Structure in Canada is dated to 1.8 billion years ago. At the time, only microbes existed as life. The Wilkes Land crater under the East Antarctic ice sheet may signify an even larger impact.

Ad There is one consensus among scientists: the impact of an object larger than 12 miles (20 km) in diameter would be likely to kill all complex life on Earth by blocking out the Sun, halting photosynthesis for years at a time, and causing runaway global cooling. Tens of thousands of cubic kilometers of crust would be instantaneously vaporized, spewing red-hot ejecta across a continent-sized area. The only survivors would be microbes, especially bacteria (extremophiles) and fungi. Even the third-largest of the asteroids is more than 20 times larger than what is necessary to kill all multicellular life on Earth, if it made impact. Luckily, these objects are in stable orbits and extremely unlikely to cross paths with the planet. Of the largest, only one has so far been visited by astronauts or space probes. The Dawn mission (launched in 2007) entered orbit around Vesta in July 2011 and left in September 2012 , headed to Ceres. New Horizons (launched in 2006) will reach Pluto in 2015.

Currently, the best telescopes only provide fuzzy pictures of these bodies, so scientists' knowledge about them is limited. Pluto is known to have a reddish tint, similar to Mars, while Ceres possesses mysterious white and dark spots (presumably craters) that appear and disappear over the years. In the early history of the solar system, much larger asteroids were common. It is thought that the Moon was created when a Mars-sized object named Rhea formed in the same orbit as the Earth, eventually hitting it. The crust ejected from this impact formed the the Moon. This theory is well-supported because the composition of the Moon is similar to that of the Earth's crust. Ad What is the largest asteroid? | Cool Cosmos What is the largest asteroid? The largest asteroid is called Ceres. It is about one-quarter the size of the moon and orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter in a region called the asteroid belt. Unlike most asteroids, Ceres is spherical in shape. Ceres was discovered by the Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi in 1801 as he searched for a planet which was predicted to exist between Mars and Jupiter. It was the first asteroid ever discovered. It is a dwarf planet.

Continue the conversation on Photos: Dwarf Planet Ceres, the Solar System's Largest Asteroid Photos: Dwarf Planet Ceres, the Solar System's Largest Asteroid By SPACE.com Staff | November 20, 2016 07:00am ET MORE Ceres Up Close Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The dwarf planet Ceres, the largest asteroid in the solar system, is round and may contain more fresh water than the entire Earth. NASA's Dawn spacecraft has been exploring Ceres since 2015. See more views of Ceres in this SPACE.com gallery. HERE:This image of Ceres as seen by NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows how the dwarf planet would appear to human eyes. This image, released Nov. 18, 2016, was created using images from Dawn captured in 2015 that were then color adjusted by scientists at the German Aerospace Center in Berlin. Read the Full Story . Behold, Occator Crater Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The strange bright spots of Occator Crater on the dwarf planet Ceres are unmistakable in this spectacular photo by NASA's Dawn spacecraft taken on Oct.

17, 2016 and released on Nov. 18 as Dawn moves into a higher orbit. Read the Full Story . Ceres Occator Crater Bright Spot Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA A close-up view of a strange bright spot in Occator crater on the dwarf planet Ceres, as seen by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Observations of from ground-based telescopes suggest the spots undergo daily changes. Occator Crater with Ceres' Bright Spots Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI Occator Crater, stretching 57 miles (92 kilometers) across and delving 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) deep, is home to the mysterious brightest area on dwarf planet Ceres. Image released March 22, 2016. Haulani Crater in Enhanced Color Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this enhanced-color view Haulani Crater on the dwarf planet Ceres. Blue areas such as those seen in this image have been associated with young features on Ceres. Image released April 19, 2016.

Ceres' Haulani Crater Mosaic Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI Ceres’ 21-mile-wide (34 kilometers) Haulani Crater is shown in this mosaic of views captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft from an altitude of 240 miles (385 km). Image released April 19, 2016. Oxo Crater on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI NASA's Dawn spacecraft captured this view of Ceres’ 6-mile-wide (10 kilometers) Oxo Crater from an altitude of 240 miles (385 km). The crater possesses an unusually large "slump" in its crater rim. Image released April 19, 2016. Ceres Neutron Counts Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF A portion of the northern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres appears in this map, which includes neutron counting data acquired by the gamma ray and neutron detector (GRaND) instrument aboard NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

Blue indicates lowest neutron count, and, at the other end of the scale, red indicates the highest neutron count. Image released March 22, 2016. Enhanced Color Global Map of Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The surface of Ceres appears in this global map made with enhanced color, including infrared wavelengths outside human visual range. Image released March 22, 2016. Ceres LAMO Coverage Map Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI A still from an animated video shows Dawn mission's imaging coverage of dwarf planet Ceres during its low-altitude mapping orbit, 240 miles (385 kilometers) above the surface. Image released March 22, 2016. Ceres' Haulani Crater Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF NASA's Dawn spacecraft used its visible and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIR) observed Ceres' Haulani Crater (21 miles, 34 kilometers wide). Image released March 22, 2016.

Colorized Map of Ceres (Mercator Projection) Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA Researchers used a clear-filter mosaic to make this colorized global map of Ceres. The map had color added using spectral data from other observations of Ceres (calculated using a color transformation program). The green and yellow areas at high latitudes show where Dawn's color imaging coverage remains incomplete. Image released March 22, 2016. Center of Occator Crater in Enhanced Color Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI/LPI The bright spots in Occator Crater on dwarf planet Ceres appear here with enhanced color, in a view from NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Image released March 22, 2016. False-Color View of Occator Crater Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA False-color view of Occator Crater showing differences in surface composition.

Red corresponds to a wavelength range around 0.97 micrometers (near infrared), green to a wavelength range around 0.75 micrometers (red, visible light) and blue to a wavelength range around 0.44 micrometers (blue, visible light). These images were captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft from a distance of 2,750 miles (4,450 kilometers) Ceres Illustration - Dawn Data Credit: SO/L.Calçada/NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/Steve Albers/N. Risinger ( skysurvey.org ) An artist's illustration of Ceres based on mapping and observations from NASA's Dawn spacecraft currently orbiting the dwarf planet in the Asteroid Belt.

Ceres' Surface Up Close Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The surface of the dwarf planet Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on December 10, shows an area in the southern mid-latitudes, around a crater chain called Gerber Catena Ceres' Stressed Surface Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA A close-up view of the dwarf planet Ceres, taken on Dec. 10, 2015, by the Dawn space probe, during a maneuver that placed the probe within 240 miles (385 kilometers) of Ceres. Ceres' Cratered Surface Up Close Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA This view of Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on December 10, shows an area in the southern mid-latitudes of the dwarf planet. It is located in an area around a crater chain called Samhain Catena, from an approximate distance of 240 miles (385 kilometers) from Ceres.

Occator Topography Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA This color-coded topographic map shows Ceres' Occator crater, which is home to the dwarf planet's weird bright spots. NASA unveiled the image on Sept. 30, 2015. Read the full story . Topographic Ceres Map with Feature Names Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA A color-coded map from NASA's Dawn mission reveals the surface topography of dwarf planet Ceres. Read the full story . Map-Projected View of Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained images for this map-projected view of Ceres during its high-altitude mapping orbit, in August and September 2015. Read the full story . Topographic View of Ceres Mountain Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI NASA's Dawn spacecraft provided image used to produce this view of Ceres featuring a tall conical mountain. Read the full story .

Behold, Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA This amazing view of a crater on Ceres comes from a video captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft while orbiting the dwarf planet. Ceres Mountain Ridge Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA An image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft, taken on Aug. 19, 2015, shows a mountain ridge, near lower left, that lies in the center of Urvara crater on Ceres. Ceres' Lonely Mountain Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft spotted this tall, conical mountain on Ceres on Aug. 19, 2015, from a distance of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). The mountain, located in the dwarf planet's southern hemisphere, stands 4 miles (6 km) high. Its perimeter is sharply defined, with almost no accumulated debris at the base of the brightly streaked slope.

Ceres Gaue crater Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn Spacecraft took this image of Gaue crater, the large crater on the bottom, on Ceres. Gaue is a Germanic goddess to whom offerings are made in harvesting rye. The image was taken on Aug. 19, 2015. Dawn's Ceres Maps Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA These color-coded maps of the dwarf planet Ceres were created from topographic data from NASA's Dawn spacecraft. The planet's surface has dramatic variation, with as great as 9 mile (15 kilometer) variation between tall peaks and crater bottoms. [Read full story .] Ceres Features Get Names Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA A color-coded map of dwarf planet Ceres' topography points out the names of its many features, captured in detail by NASA's Dawn mission.

[Read full story .] Haulani, a Bright Region on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF This visible and infrared image of dwarf planet Ceres shows Haulani, a bright region named after the Hawaiian plant goddess [Read full story .] Bright spots on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The brightest spots on dwarf planet Ceres are seen in this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Ceres' Northern Hemisphere in Survey Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained this image of craters in the northern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres on June 6, 2015, from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). Image released June 10, 2015. Ceres mountain the pyramid Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA. A 3-mile-high (5 kilometers) mountain dubbed "The Pyramid" juts from Ceres' limb in this photo by NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

Ceres Pyramid-Shaped Mountain Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA Dwarf planet Ceres contains a pyramid-shaped mountain estimated to rise about 3 miles (5 kilometers) above the surface. NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) on June 6, 2015. Dawn Sees Giant Crater on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA A large crater on the dwarf planet Ceres (lower right) is seen in this photo captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Dawn View of Ceres Craters Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft captured this image of the dwarf planet Ceres' heavily cratered surface on May 23, 2015, from a distance of 3,200 miles (5,100 kilometers).

Ceres — Dawn Survey Orbit Image 9 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA Ceres, a large dwarf planet in the solar system's asteroid belt, would present many challenges to settlers hoping to set up a colony like the one in the new SyFy channel's show "The Expanse." Dimmer Companion Found for Bright Spot on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft viewed dwarf planet Ceres on Feb. 19 from a distance of nearly 29,000 miles (46,000 kilometers). The brightest spot on Ceres possesses a dimmer companion, which apparently lies in the same basin. Dwarf Planet Ceres Seen During One Full Rotation Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft took these images of dwarf planet Ceres, processed to enhance clarity, on Feb. 19, 2015, from a distance of about 29,000 miles (46,000 kilometers). Dawn observed Ceres for one full rotation, about nine hours.

Uncropped Images of Dwarf Planet Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained these uncropped images of dwarf planet Ceres on Feb. 19, 2015, from a distance of roughly 29,000 miles (46,000 kilometers). These images make up part of a series of photos taken as Dawn observed Ceres completing one full rotation, about nine hours. What Are These Spots? Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The strange bright spots on Ceres are taking center stage in new photos of the dwarf planet captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Read the full story here . Mystery White Spot on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI A mysterious white spot can be seen in the newest images from NASA's Dawn space telescope, which is rapidly approaching the dwarf planet.

Dwarf Planet Ceres by Dawn Spacecraft Zoom-In 2 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI A zoomed-in view of the dwarf planet Ceres, seen from a distance of 238,000 miles (383,000 kilometers) by the Dawn spacecraft on Jan. 13, 2015. The image hints at the presence of craters and other features on Ceres' surface. Read the Full Story . Dawn Image of Ceres, Feb. 4, 2015 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image of the dwarf planet Ceres on Feb. 4, 2015 at a distance of about 90,000 miles (145,000 kilometers) from the dwarf planet. Ceres in Visible and Infrared Light Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF The dwarf planet Ceres, seen by the Dawn space probe on Jan. 13, 2015, in optical light and infrared (right). In the infrared image, white indicates hotter than red.

Ceres Image Jan. 25, 2015 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The planet Ceres, seen by the Dawn space probe on Jan. 25, 2015, at a distance of 147,000 miles (237,000 kilometers). Dwarf Planet Ceres by Dawn Spacecraft Zoom-In 1 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI A zoomed-in view of the dwarf planet Ceres, seen from a distance of 238,000 miles (383,000 kilometers) by the Dawn spacecraft on Jan. 13, 2015. Read the Full Story . Dwarf Planet Ceres by Dawn full view Jan 13 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The dwarf planet Ceres, seen from a distance of 238,000 miles (383,000 kilometers) on Jan. 13, 2015. NASA's Dawn spacecraft captured this view. Read the Full Story .

Zoomed-in View of Dwarf Planet Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA Zoomed-in image of the dwarf planet Ceres captured on Dec. 1, 2014 by NASA's Dawn spacecraft captured this photo of the dwarf planet Ceres, from a distance of about 740,000 miles (1.2 million kilometers). Dawn's Best-Ever Photo of Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft acquired this image of the dwarf planet Ceres on Dec. 1, 2014. A cropped, magnified view of Ceres appears in the inset at lower left. Artist's Impression of Ceres Credit: IMCCE-Observatoire de Paris/CNRS/Y.Gominet, B. Carry An artist's impression of water outgassing from two sources on the dwarf planet Ceres, which is also the largest asteroid in the solar system [ Read the Full Story Here .] Dwarf Planet Ceres Credit: ESA/ATG medialab An artist's depiction of the dwarf planet Ceres.

Observations by ESA's Herschel space observatory between 2011 and 2013 find that the dwarf planet has a thin water vapor atmosphere. [ Read the Full Story Here .] Layers of Ceres Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI) The layers of Ceres. Scientists think that the dwarf planet contains a rocky inner core surrounded by a thick mantle of water-ice. A thin outer crust covers the surface, with carbonates and other signs that water lay on the planet's skin at some point. Ceres Water Vapor Atmosphere Credit: ESA/ATG medialab An artist's impression of the dwarf planet Ceres, which appears to have a water vapor atmosphere from outgassing on the object. Inset: The water absorption signal detected by the European Space Agency's Herschel space observatory on Oct. 11, 2012. Image released Jan. 22, 2014. [ Read the Full Story Here .] Largest Asteroid Might Contain More Fresh Water than Earth Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Parker (Southwest Research Institute), P. Thomas (Cornell University), and L.

McFadden (University of Maryland, College Park) Snapshots of the asteroid 1 Ceres taken by the Hubble Space Telescope provide clues about the asteroid's interior make-up. The bright spot that appears in each image is a mystery. Asteroid Vesta as Seen by Hubble Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Parker (Southwest Research Institute), L. McFadden (University of Maryland) This Hubble Space Telescope image of Vesta shows another of the most massive asteroids in the asteroid belt, a region between Mars and Jupiter. The images are helping astronomers plan for the Dawn spacecraft's tour of these hefty asteroids. As the Asteroid Turns: Hubble Records New Video of Asteroid Vesta Credit: NASA/ESA/STScI/UMd NASA's Hubble Space Telescope snapped these images of the asteroid Vesta in preparation for the Dawn spacecraft's visit in 2011. Each of the four Hubble images captures views of Vesta during its 5.34-hour rotation period. Dwarf Planet Ceres Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Parker (Southwest Research Institute), P. Thomas (Cornell University), L. McFadden (University of Maryland, College Park), and M.

Mutchler and Z. Levay (STScI) This Hubble Space Telescope image shows Ceres, the most massive object in the asteroid belt, in 2004. Dawn Spacecraft Artist's Concept Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech This artist's concept shows NASA's Dawn spacecraft heading toward the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn spent nearly 14 months orbiting Vesta, the second most massive object in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, from 2011 to 2012. It is heading towards Ceres, the largest member of the asteroid belt. When Dawn arrives, it will be the first spacecraft to go into orbit around two destinations in our solar system beyond Earth. Ceres Rotation One Quarter Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Parker (Southwest Research Institute), P. Thomas (Cornell University), and L. McFadden (University of Maryland, College Park) Ceres rotates about once every nine hours.

Dwarf Planets in Our Solar System (Infographic) Credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com contributor Millions of Rocky and Metallic Asteroids Occupy the Asteroid Belt (Infographic) Credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com Contributor Most asteroids orbit the sun within a broad belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter: the asteroid belt. Get the facts about the asteroid belt in this SPACE.com infographic . Vesta and Ceres Hubble View Credit: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope imaged the asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres in 2007, both targets of NASA's Dawn mission. Artist's Concept of NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Credit: William K. Hartmann Courtesy of UCLA An artist's concept of NASA's Dawn spacecraft. The asteroid Vesta, which the craft has already left, is on the left. Dawn will reach Ceres, shown on the right, in March 2015. Asteroid Vesta in Perspective with Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ UCLA The giant asteroid Vesta is shown here as the smallest body among other similar bodies in the solar system: Mars, Mercury, Earth's moon and the dwarf planet Ceres.

Workers Preparing Dawn Spacecraft for Launch Credit: NASA/Jim Grossman Launch pad workers prepare the Dawn spacecraft for its attachment to a Delta 2 rocket. The probe is set to launch in September 2007 to visit the asteroids Vesta and Ceres. Dawn Spacecraft Launches on Mission to Asteroids Vesta and Ceres Credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Robert Murray NASA's Dawn asteroid probe launches on a three billion mile (4.9 billion-kilometer) mission to the asteroids Vesta and Ceres atop a Delta 2 rocket on Sept. 27, 2007 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Water Detection on Ceres Credit: ESA/NASA/Adapted from Kuppers et al. This graph shows variability in the intensity of the water absorption signal detected at Ceres by the Herschel space observatory on March 6, 2013. The most intense readings correspond to two dark regions on the surface known as Piazzi and Region A, identified in the ground-based image of Ceres by the W.M. Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

The two data points at 110 degrees longitude were taken in a time interval of about 9 hours — equal to the Ceres rotation period — showing that variability in the water vapor production is possible even over short periods. previous | next Ceres Up Close Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The dwarf planet Ceres, the largest asteroid in the solar system, is round and may contain more fresh water than the entire Earth. NASA's Dawn spacecraft has been exploring Ceres since 2015. See more views of Ceres in this SPACE.com gallery. HERE:This image of Ceres as seen by NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows how the dwarf planet would appear to human eyes. This image, released Nov. 18, 2016, was created using images from Dawn captured in 2015 that were then color adjusted by scientists at the German Aerospace Center in Berlin. Read the Full Story . Behold, Occator Crater Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The strange bright spots of Occator Crater on the dwarf planet Ceres are unmistakable in this spectacular photo by NASA's Dawn spacecraft taken on Oct.

17, 2016 and released on Nov. 18 as Dawn moves into a higher orbit. Read the Full Story . Ceres Occator Crater Bright Spot Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA A close-up view of a strange bright spot in Occator crater on the dwarf planet Ceres, as seen by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Observations of from ground-based telescopes suggest the spots undergo daily changes. Occator Crater with Ceres' Bright Spots Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI Occator Crater, stretching 57 miles (92 kilometers) across and delving 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) deep, is home to the mysterious brightest area on dwarf planet Ceres. Image released March 22, 2016. Haulani Crater in Enhanced Color Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this enhanced-color view Haulani Crater on the dwarf planet Ceres. Blue areas such as those seen in this image have been associated with young features on Ceres. Image released April 19, 2016.

Ceres' Haulani Crater Mosaic Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI Ceres’ 21-mile-wide (34 kilometers) Haulani Crater is shown in this mosaic of views captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft from an altitude of 240 miles (385 km). Image released April 19, 2016. Oxo Crater on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI NASA's Dawn spacecraft captured this view of Ceres’ 6-mile-wide (10 kilometers) Oxo Crater from an altitude of 240 miles (385 km). The crater possesses an unusually large "slump" in its crater rim. Image released April 19, 2016. Ceres Neutron Counts Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF A portion of the northern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres appears in this map, which includes neutron counting data acquired by the gamma ray and neutron detector (GRaND) instrument aboard NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

Blue indicates lowest neutron count, and, at the other end of the scale, red indicates the highest neutron count. Image released March 22, 2016. Enhanced Color Global Map of Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The surface of Ceres appears in this global map made with enhanced color, including infrared wavelengths outside human visual range. Image released March 22, 2016. Ceres LAMO Coverage Map Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI A still from an animated video shows Dawn mission's imaging coverage of dwarf planet Ceres during its low-altitude mapping orbit, 240 miles (385 kilometers) above the surface. Image released March 22, 2016. Ceres' Haulani Crater Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF NASA's Dawn spacecraft used its visible and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIR) observed Ceres' Haulani Crater (21 miles, 34 kilometers wide). Image released March 22, 2016.

Colorized Map of Ceres (Mercator Projection) Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA Researchers used a clear-filter mosaic to make this colorized global map of Ceres. The map had color added using spectral data from other observations of Ceres (calculated using a color transformation program). The green and yellow areas at high latitudes show where Dawn's color imaging coverage remains incomplete. Image released March 22, 2016. Center of Occator Crater in Enhanced Color Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI/LPI The bright spots in Occator Crater on dwarf planet Ceres appear here with enhanced color, in a view from NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Image released March 22, 2016. False-Color View of Occator Crater Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA False-color view of Occator Crater showing differences in surface composition.

Red corresponds to a wavelength range around 0.97 micrometers (near infrared), green to a wavelength range around 0.75 micrometers (red, visible light) and blue to a wavelength range around 0.44 micrometers (blue, visible light). These images were captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft from a distance of 2,750 miles (4,450 kilometers) Ceres Illustration - Dawn Data Credit: SO/L.Calçada/NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/Steve Albers/N. Risinger ( skysurvey.org ) An artist's illustration of Ceres based on mapping and observations from NASA's Dawn spacecraft currently orbiting the dwarf planet in the Asteroid Belt.

Ceres' Surface Up Close Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The surface of the dwarf planet Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on December 10, shows an area in the southern mid-latitudes, around a crater chain called Gerber Catena Ceres' Stressed Surface Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA A close-up view of the dwarf planet Ceres, taken on Dec. 10, 2015, by the Dawn space probe, during a maneuver that placed the probe within 240 miles (385 kilometers) of Ceres. Ceres' Cratered Surface Up Close Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA This view of Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on December 10, shows an area in the southern mid-latitudes of the dwarf planet. It is located in an area around a crater chain called Samhain Catena, from an approximate distance of 240 miles (385 kilometers) from Ceres.

Occator Topography Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA This color-coded topographic map shows Ceres' Occator crater, which is home to the dwarf planet's weird bright spots. NASA unveiled the image on Sept. 30, 2015. Read the full story . Topographic Ceres Map with Feature Names Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA A color-coded map from NASA's Dawn mission reveals the surface topography of dwarf planet Ceres. Read the full story . Map-Projected View of Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained images for this map-projected view of Ceres during its high-altitude mapping orbit, in August and September 2015. Read the full story . Topographic View of Ceres Mountain Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI NASA's Dawn spacecraft provided image used to produce this view of Ceres featuring a tall conical mountain. Read the full story .

Behold, Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA This amazing view of a crater on Ceres comes from a video captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft while orbiting the dwarf planet. Ceres Mountain Ridge Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA An image from NASA's Dawn spacecraft, taken on Aug. 19, 2015, shows a mountain ridge, near lower left, that lies in the center of Urvara crater on Ceres. Ceres' Lonely Mountain Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft spotted this tall, conical mountain on Ceres on Aug. 19, 2015, from a distance of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). The mountain, located in the dwarf planet's southern hemisphere, stands 4 miles (6 km) high. Its perimeter is sharply defined, with almost no accumulated debris at the base of the brightly streaked slope.

Ceres Gaue crater Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn Spacecraft took this image of Gaue crater, the large crater on the bottom, on Ceres. Gaue is a Germanic goddess to whom offerings are made in harvesting rye. The image was taken on Aug. 19, 2015. Dawn's Ceres Maps Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA These color-coded maps of the dwarf planet Ceres were created from topographic data from NASA's Dawn spacecraft. The planet's surface has dramatic variation, with as great as 9 mile (15 kilometer) variation between tall peaks and crater bottoms. [Read full story .] Ceres Features Get Names Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA A color-coded map of dwarf planet Ceres' topography points out the names of its many features, captured in detail by NASA's Dawn mission.

[Read full story .] Haulani, a Bright Region on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF This visible and infrared image of dwarf planet Ceres shows Haulani, a bright region named after the Hawaiian plant goddess [Read full story .] Bright spots on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The brightest spots on dwarf planet Ceres are seen in this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Ceres' Northern Hemisphere in Survey Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained this image of craters in the northern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres on June 6, 2015, from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). Image released June 10, 2015. Ceres mountain the pyramid Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA. A 3-mile-high (5 kilometers) mountain dubbed "The Pyramid" juts from Ceres' limb in this photo by NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

Ceres Pyramid-Shaped Mountain Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA Dwarf planet Ceres contains a pyramid-shaped mountain estimated to rise about 3 miles (5 kilometers) above the surface. NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) on June 6, 2015. Dawn Sees Giant Crater on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA A large crater on the dwarf planet Ceres (lower right) is seen in this photo captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Dawn View of Ceres Craters Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft captured this image of the dwarf planet Ceres' heavily cratered surface on May 23, 2015, from a distance of 3,200 miles (5,100 kilometers).

Ceres — Dawn Survey Orbit Image 9 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA Ceres, a large dwarf planet in the solar system's asteroid belt, would present many challenges to settlers hoping to set up a colony like the one in the new SyFy channel's show "The Expanse." Dimmer Companion Found for Bright Spot on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft viewed dwarf planet Ceres on Feb. 19 from a distance of nearly 29,000 miles (46,000 kilometers). The brightest spot on Ceres possesses a dimmer companion, which apparently lies in the same basin. Dwarf Planet Ceres Seen During One Full Rotation Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft took these images of dwarf planet Ceres, processed to enhance clarity, on Feb. 19, 2015, from a distance of about 29,000 miles (46,000 kilometers). Dawn observed Ceres for one full rotation, about nine hours.

Uncropped Images of Dwarf Planet Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained these uncropped images of dwarf planet Ceres on Feb. 19, 2015, from a distance of roughly 29,000 miles (46,000 kilometers). These images make up part of a series of photos taken as Dawn observed Ceres completing one full rotation, about nine hours. What Are These Spots? Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The strange bright spots on Ceres are taking center stage in new photos of the dwarf planet captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Read the full story here . Mystery White Spot on Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI A mysterious white spot can be seen in the newest images from NASA's Dawn space telescope, which is rapidly approaching the dwarf planet.

Dwarf Planet Ceres by Dawn Spacecraft Zoom-In 2 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI A zoomed-in view of the dwarf planet Ceres, seen from a distance of 238,000 miles (383,000 kilometers) by the Dawn spacecraft on Jan. 13, 2015. The image hints at the presence of craters and other features on Ceres' surface. Read the Full Story . Dawn Image of Ceres, Feb. 4, 2015 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image of the dwarf planet Ceres on Feb. 4, 2015 at a distance of about 90,000 miles (145,000 kilometers) from the dwarf planet. Ceres in Visible and Infrared Light Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF The dwarf planet Ceres, seen by the Dawn space probe on Jan. 13, 2015, in optical light and infrared (right). In the infrared image, white indicates hotter than red.

Ceres Image Jan. 25, 2015 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The planet Ceres, seen by the Dawn space probe on Jan. 25, 2015, at a distance of 147,000 miles (237,000 kilometers). Dwarf Planet Ceres by Dawn Spacecraft Zoom-In 1 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA/PSI A zoomed-in view of the dwarf planet Ceres, seen from a distance of 238,000 miles (383,000 kilometers) by the Dawn spacecraft on Jan. 13, 2015. Read the Full Story . Dwarf Planet Ceres by Dawn full view Jan 13 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA The dwarf planet Ceres, seen from a distance of 238,000 miles (383,000 kilometers) on Jan. 13, 2015. NASA's Dawn spacecraft captured this view. Read the Full Story .

Zoomed-in View of Dwarf Planet Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA Zoomed-in image of the dwarf planet Ceres captured on Dec. 1, 2014 by NASA's Dawn spacecraft captured this photo of the dwarf planet Ceres, from a distance of about 740,000 miles (1.2 million kilometers). Dawn's Best-Ever Photo of Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA NASA's Dawn spacecraft acquired this image of the dwarf planet Ceres on Dec. 1, 2014. A cropped, magnified view of Ceres appears in the inset at lower left. Artist's Impression of Ceres Credit: IMCCE-Observatoire de Paris/CNRS/Y.Gominet, B. Carry An artist's impression of water outgassing from two sources on the dwarf planet Ceres, which is also the largest asteroid in the solar system [ Read the Full Story Here .] Dwarf Planet Ceres Credit: ESA/ATG medialab An artist's depiction of the dwarf planet Ceres.

Observations by ESA's Herschel space observatory between 2011 and 2013 find that the dwarf planet has a thin water vapor atmosphere. [ Read the Full Story Here .] Layers of Ceres Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI) The layers of Ceres. Scientists think that the dwarf planet contains a rocky inner core surrounded by a thick mantle of water-ice. A thin outer crust covers the surface, with carbonates and other signs that water lay on the planet's skin at some point. Ceres Water Vapor Atmosphere Credit: ESA/ATG medialab An artist's impression of the dwarf planet Ceres, which appears to have a water vapor atmosphere from outgassing on the object. Inset: The water absorption signal detected by the European Space Agency's Herschel space observatory on Oct. 11, 2012. Image released Jan. 22, 2014. [ Read the Full Story Here .] Largest Asteroid Might Contain More Fresh Water than Earth Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Parker (Southwest Research Institute), P. Thomas (Cornell University), and L.

McFadden (University of Maryland, College Park) Snapshots of the asteroid 1 Ceres taken by the Hubble Space Telescope provide clues about the asteroid's interior make-up. The bright spot that appears in each image is a mystery. Asteroid Vesta as Seen by Hubble Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Parker (Southwest Research Institute), L. McFadden (University of Maryland) This Hubble Space Telescope image of Vesta shows another of the most massive asteroids in the asteroid belt, a region between Mars and Jupiter. The images are helping astronomers plan for the Dawn spacecraft's tour of these hefty asteroids. As the Asteroid Turns: Hubble Records New Video of Asteroid Vesta Credit: NASA/ESA/STScI/UMd NASA's Hubble Space Telescope snapped these images of the asteroid Vesta in preparation for the Dawn spacecraft's visit in 2011. Each of the four Hubble images captures views of Vesta during its 5.34-hour rotation period. Dwarf Planet Ceres Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Parker (Southwest Research Institute), P. Thomas (Cornell University), L. McFadden (University of Maryland, College Park), and M.

Mutchler and Z. Levay (STScI) This Hubble Space Telescope image shows Ceres, the most massive object in the asteroid belt, in 2004. Dawn Spacecraft Artist's Concept Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech This artist's concept shows NASA's Dawn spacecraft heading toward the dwarf planet Ceres. Dawn spent nearly 14 months orbiting Vesta, the second most massive object in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, from 2011 to 2012. It is heading towards Ceres, the largest member of the asteroid belt. When Dawn arrives, it will be the first spacecraft to go into orbit around two destinations in our solar system beyond Earth. Ceres Rotation One Quarter Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Parker (Southwest Research Institute), P. Thomas (Cornell University), and L. McFadden (University of Maryland, College Park) Ceres rotates about once every nine hours.

Dwarf Planets in Our Solar System (Infographic) Credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com contributor Millions of Rocky and Metallic Asteroids Occupy the Asteroid Belt (Infographic) Credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com Contributor Most asteroids orbit the sun within a broad belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter: the asteroid belt. Get the facts about the asteroid belt in this SPACE.com infographic . Vesta and Ceres Hubble View Credit: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope imaged the asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres in 2007, both targets of NASA's Dawn mission. Artist's Concept of NASA's Dawn Spacecraft Credit: William K. Hartmann Courtesy of UCLA An artist's concept of NASA's Dawn spacecraft. The asteroid Vesta, which the craft has already left, is on the left. Dawn will reach Ceres, shown on the right, in March 2015. Asteroid Vesta in Perspective with Ceres Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ UCLA The giant asteroid Vesta is shown here as the smallest body among other similar bodies in the solar system: Mars, Mercury, Earth's moon and the dwarf planet Ceres.

Workers Preparing Dawn Spacecraft for Launch Credit: NASA/Jim Grossman Launch pad workers prepare the Dawn spacecraft for its attachment to a Delta 2 rocket. The probe is set to launch in September 2007 to visit the asteroids Vesta and Ceres. Dawn Spacecraft Launches on Mission to Asteroids Vesta and Ceres Credit: NASA/Tony Gray & Robert Murray NASA's Dawn asteroid probe launches on a three billion mile (4.9 billion-kilometer) mission to the asteroids Vesta and Ceres atop a Delta 2 rocket on Sept. 27, 2007 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Water Detection on Ceres Credit: ESA/NASA/Adapted from Kuppers et al. This graph shows variability in the intensity of the water absorption signal detected at Ceres by the Herschel space observatory on March 6, 2013. The most intense readings correspond to two dark regions on the surface known as Piazzi and Region A, identified in the ground-based image of Ceres by the W.M. Keck Observatory on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

The two data points at 110 degrees longitude were taken in a time interval of about 9 hours — equal to the Ceres rotation period — showing that variability in the water vapor production is possible even over short periods.

Question: Which is the largest of the asteroids?
Answer: Ceres