NASA says dwarf planet Ceres is an ocean world

[Towelney]

     Ceres is a dwarf planet and the largest known object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. And now we know it may be an ocean world with intriguing geologic activity taking place on and just below its surface, according to new research.

While this global ocean beneath the planet's surface likely froze over time, remnants of it may still be present beneath a large impact crater on Ceres. The presence of salts may have preserved the liquid as a brine, despite cold temperatures.

This new research is based on observations made during Dawn's orbit of Ceres between 2015 and 2018, including close passes it made of the dwarf planet just 22 miles above the surface toward the end of the mission.

During that time, Dawn was focused on the 57-mile-wide Occator Crater, a 22-million-year-old feature that appeared to showcase bright spots. These eye-catching characteristics were discovered to be sodium carbonate, or a compound including oxygen, carbon and sodium.

When the impact that created the crater struck Ceres, it may have allowed the reservoir to deposit bright salts visible in the crater by fracturing the planet's crust. As the fractures reached the salty reservoirs, the brine was able to reach the surface of the crater floor. As the water evaporated, a bright, salty crust remained behind.

And brines may still be rising to the surface today -- which suggests the activity on Ceres is not due to melting that may have occurred when the planet was impacted.

In fact, Dawn's data also indicated the presence of hydrated chloride salts at the center of the largest bright area at the crater's center, called Cerealia Facula. This hydrohalite compound is common in marine ice on Earth, but it's the first time hydrohalite has been found outside of our planet.

The salts appear to dehydrate fairly quickly on the surface, at least, astronomically speaking. This dehydration occurs over hundreds of years.

But the measurements taken by Dawn showed water was still present. This suggests that brine may still be rising to the surface of the crater and that salty liquid could still exist inside of Ceres.

Source

[Britneyarmy8]

Omg knees gonna post about it next

“heard that nasa 💥🛰🚀said there is a new dwarf planet that’s an ocean world 💦💧💧🌊🌊🌊☁️🌨🌨isn’t that so cool but scary 😳😳😂 wonder what it would’ve been like to swim over there 🏊‍♂️🧘🧘🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🌊must be relaxing... the universe is so big and cool 😳🥰... GOD BLESS YOU ALL“

[Towelney]

9 minutes ago, Britneyarmy8 said:

Omg knees gonna post about it next

“heard that nasa 💥🛰🚀said there is a new dwarf planet that’s an ocean world 💦💧💧🌊🌊🌊☁️🌨🌨isn’t that so cool but scary 😳😳😂 wonder what it would’ve been like to swim over there 🏊‍♂️🧘🧘🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🌊must be relaxing... the universe is so big and cool 😳🥰... GOD BLESS YOU ALL“

I’m dead 

[Iconic 4 U]

I guess we're moving to Ceres 

[Towelney]

There also could be life in Europa’s oceans 

And in Venus’s upper atmosphere 

[Blackout2006]

What if they find Atlantis over there?

[Towelney]

2 hours ago, Blackout2006 said:

What if they find Atlantis over there?

In 2020, anything’s possible 

[Blackout2006]

3 minutes ago, Towelney said:

In 2020, anything’s possible 

We should ask the Atlantians, if they stan Britney 

[Towelney]

11 minutes ago, Blackout2006 said:

We should ask the Atlantians, if they stan Britney 

They better  They stan One More Time, so I know they have taste 

 

[Blackout2006]

Just now, Towelney said:

They better  They stan One More Time, so I know they have taste 

 

We should ask them wat they think of Myah Marie Jean

But i mean even on a whole different world, Myah Marie jean would still be hated 

On the other note, i love One more time

[moon1911]

Thanks for the news, it's very interesting ☺👍

[Anitta Elusive Chanteuse]

I heard Ariel lost her red weave there

[Towelney]

25 minutes ago, Anitta Elusive Chanteuse said:

I heard Ariel lost her red weave there

[TSmidnighTS]

Stream NASA for clear skin!