Asteroid Ceres was an ocean world that slowly formed into a giant, murky icy orb
Recent research indicates that asteroid Ceres, once thought dry, may have a surface composed of about 90% ice, suggesting it was a former ocean world, valuable for future space missions.
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Recent research from Purdue University and NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab suggests that the asteroid Ceres, previously thought to be relatively dry, is actually a former ocean world with a crust rich in ice. This study, led by Ian Pamerleau and Mike Sori, utilized computer simulations to analyze how craters on Ceres have deformed over billions of years. Contrary to earlier beliefs that Ceres contained less than 30% ice, the new findings indicate that the surface may be composed of approximately 90% ice. The researchers propose that Ceres once had a "muddy ocean" that gradually froze, forming a crust with a mix of ice and rocky material. Their simulations demonstrated that ice can remain strong under certain conditions, allowing for a high ice content without significant deformation of craters over time. This discovery positions Ceres as a valuable target for future space missions, as it may provide insights into icy worlds similar to Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus. The Dawn mission, which orbited Ceres from 2015 to 2018, provided critical data supporting these conclusions.
- Ceres is believed to have once been a "muddy ocean world" with a crust rich in ice.
- New research suggests Ceres' surface may contain about 90% ice, contradicting previous estimates.
- Computer simulations indicate that ice can remain strong under specific conditions, limiting crater deformation.
- Ceres is considered a prime target for future space missions due to its accessibility and potential for scientific discovery.
- The findings enhance understanding of icy bodies in the solar system and their formation processes.
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