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Feature/Overview
and Objectives
Dawn Dictionary
Why Ceres and Vesta?
Technology
Orbit Visualization Tools:
Ceres
Vesta
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Hubble Space Telescope: NASA |
Science Mission Update - April 4, 2007 Dawn mission scientists have been awarded time on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). In the first accepted proposal, Jian-Yang Li, working with Co-Investigator Lucy McFadden, will observe the UV-absorption band on Ceres. In the second proposal, Mission PI, Chris Russell, will observe 2 Pallas
(a once-in-20-years opportunity due to the asteroid's highly inclined orbit). Chris will be assisted by graduate student Britney Schmidt and the same observing team from past successful Ceres observations. What does this mean for Dawn? The bottom line: the first proposal gives us good science and helps Dawn scientists and engineers plan for arrival at Ceres; the second proposal gives us good comparison data since 2 Pallas is a Vesta-sized body at a Ceres distance from the sun.
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Credit: NASA, ESA, and
A. Feild (STScI)
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Ceres: The Wet Look Last summer's vote by members of the International Astronomical Union elevated Ceres from being merely the largest member of the asteroid belt to a prime candidate for "dwarf planet" status. And from what astronomers have learned about it recently, Ceres is making a good case for that promotion.. + Read More
Ceres Designated a Dwarf Planet The International Astronomical Union (IAU) determined that Ceres
is a dwarf planet. + Full Press Release
Dawn's Early Light
The Science team newsletter, Dawn's Early Light, has been established to keep members of the scientific community informed about the Dawn mission. Current and past issues are available on line.
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Astronomers used Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys to study Ceres for nine hours, the time it takes the asteroid to complete a rotation. |
Observations of Ceres The Evidence is Global
Evidence for the global planetary process, called differentiation, is revealed in a letter to the journal Nature, by Peter Thomas (Cornell U.). Collaborators on the paper were Joel Parker, Elliot Young (Southwest Research Institute), Dawn Principal Investigator, Chris Russell with Lucy McFadden (University of Maryland) and Mark Sykes (Planetary Science Institute). The publication is titled, "Differentiation of the asteroid Ceres as revealed by its shape." The observations by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope show that Ceres shares characteristics of the rocky, terrestrial planets like Earth. According to Dr. Lucy McFadden, “Ceres is an embryonic planet. Gravitational perturbations from Jupiter billions of years ago prevented Ceres from accreting more material to become a full-fledged planet.” + Full Press Release
Overview
Dawn's goal is to achieve an understanding of the conditions and processes acting at the solar system's earliest epoch. Dawn investigates the internal structure, density and homogeneity of two complementary protoplanets, 1 Ceres and 4 Vesta, that have remained intact since their formation, by measuring their mass, shape, volume and spin rate with both imagery, laser altimetry and gravity. Dawn records the protoplanets' elemental and mineral composition to determine their thermal history and evolution and provides context for meteorites (asteroid samples already in hand). Dawn images Ceres and Vesta's surfaces to determine their bombardment and tectonic history, uses gravity and spin state to limit the size of any metallic core, and infrared and gamma ray spectrometry to search for water-bearing minerals. The Dawn's Early Light is a newsletter containing information about the mission and opportunities for research by members of the science community. Copies may be found here.
Measurements Objectives:
- Internal structure, density and homogeneity of two complementary protoplanets,
1 Ceres and 4 Vesta, one wet and one dry
- Determine shape, size, composition and mass
- Surface morphology, cratering
- Determine thermal history and size of core
- Understand role of water in controlling asteroid evolution
- Test the current paradigm of Vesta as the howardite, eucrite, and diogenite (HED) parent body and determine which, if any, meteorites come from Ceres
- Provide a geologic context for HEDs
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accountability report