Dwarf planet Ceres: Origin in the asteroid belt?

Recent research led by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research has provided new insights into the origin of the dwarf planet Ceres, located in the asteroid belt. Ceres, with a diameter of nearly 1,000 kilometers, has long been debated regarding whether it formed in the asteroid belt or migrated from the outer solar system. The study analyzed data from NASA's Dawn space probe, which revealed ammonium-rich deposits in the Consus crater. These findings suggest that Ceres may have originated in its current location rather than the outer solar system, as previously thought. The presence of ammonium, typically stable only in colder regions, was previously interpreted as evidence of an outer solar system origin. However, the new analysis indicates that these ammonium deposits could have formed from cryovolcanic activity, where brine from Ceres' interior has seeped to the surface over billions of years. The study highlights that the yellowish material found in Consus crater is linked to this brine, challenging earlier assumptions about Ceres' formation. The research provides a deeper understanding of Ceres' geological history and its potential for having formed in the asteroid belt.

- New findings suggest Ceres may have originated in the asteroid belt.

- Ammonium-rich deposits in Consus crater indicate cryovolcanic activity.

- Data from NASA's Dawn space probe was crucial for this research.

- The study challenges previous beliefs about Ceres' formation location.

- Ceres exhibits complex geology, differing from other asteroid belt bodies.