Dwarf planet Ceres might have a crust made from water ice

16. 08. 2021

Data from NASAs mission Dawn suggest that the dwarf planet Ceres might have an icy crust. The biggest object in the Asteroid belt between orbits of Mars and Jupiter was studied by Dawn probe between 2015 and 2018. New findings come from an elevated concentrations of hydrogen measured in and around Occator Crater. Accoring to a new study, the hydrogen is present in a form of water ice, that was excavated to a surface by the impact, that created the crater.

Mission	Timing	Status
Dawn	27. 9. 2007 - 30. 10. 2018	Ended: Success

Bodies without atmosphere cannot sustain water reserves at their surfaces, as it sublimates once heated. But scientists suspected there could be a significant amount of water present on Ceres under the surface.

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