The mystery of the lights on Ceres

[epo333]

Here is a video from the NASA’s spacecraft Dawn filmed on Jan. 13th, 2015.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaG9XaCDuB0

Published on Jan 19, 2015

NASA's Dawn mission snapped imagery of Ceres at a distance of 238,000 miles (about the same distance between the Earth and the Moon) on Jan. 13th, 2015. The images show 'hint of craters' according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

It is composed of rock and ice, is 950 km (590 mi) in diameter, and contains approximately one third of the mass of the asteroid belt.

1321

Ceres as seen by the Dawn spacecraft, 19 February 2015. The bright spots, seen unresolved in Hubble images, are here revealed as two distinct features inside a crater.

...could those bright spots be a space port, or a base...?

[calikid]

Here is a video from the NASA’s spacecraft Dawn filmed on Jan. 13th, 2015.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaG9XaCDuB0

Published on Jan 19, 2015

NASA's Dawn mission snapped imagery of Ceres at a distance of 238,000 miles (about the same distance between the Earth and the Moon) on Jan. 13th, 2015. The images show 'hint of craters' according to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

It is composed of rock and ice, is 950 km (590 mi) in diameter, and contains approximately one third of the mass of the asteroid belt.

1321

Ceres as seen by the Dawn spacecraft, 19 February 2015. The bright spots, seen unresolved in Hubble images, are here revealed as two distinct features inside a crater.

...could those bright spots be a space port, or a base...?



Probably just weather balloons. :D

[newyorklily]

Maybe it's something like this NASA image

http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/79000/79803/earth_night_rotate_lrg.jpg

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[majicbar]

Guys, one has to remember that Ceres surface is like a burnt cookie, very dark. Image compensation makes it look much lighter. A "volcano", water geyser, would deposit an ice field around it, that would sublimate into space over time. But this would contrast to a very high degree. I would bet this is exactly what is being seen. We will know shortly.

[majicbar]

Guys, one has to remember that Ceres surface is like a burnt cookie, very dark. Image compensation makes it look much lighter. A "volcano", water geyser, would deposit an ice field around it, that would sublimate into space over time. But this would contrast to a very high degree. I would bet this is exactly what is being seen. We will know shortly.

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/dawn/bright-spot-on-ceres-has-dimmer-companion/index.html#.VPO_W4738yj

The pictures are getting better all the time.

[newyorklily]

Guys, one has to remember that Ceres surface is like a burnt cookie, very dark. Image compensation makes it look much lighter. A "volcano", water geyser, would deposit an ice field around it, that would sublimate into space over time. But this would contrast to a very high degree. I would bet this is exactly what is being seen. We will know shortly.
Even if it is ice in that basin, there still needs to be a light source to reflect off of it. What and where is that light source? I think our sun is too far away.

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[majicbar]

Even if it is ice in that basin, there still needs to be a light source to reflect off of it. What and where is that light source? I think our sun is too far away.

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If you study the cameras that took the images taken by DAWN at Vesta you find that they were designed to take them in the low light at Vesta and Ceres which is only about 20% of what is around the Earth. As such they can take pictures in low light but the contrast is stretched to make the scene normalized so one thinks the lighting is like that taken of the Moon when one is in orbit around it. The same has to be done for some of the moons around Jupiter and Saturn too. Some of these cameras are able to make an image in very, very low light as will the mission to Pluto, where the sunloight is more starlight than daylight.

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/marc-rayman/0225-dawn-journal-ceres-deepening-mysteries.html

[newyorklily]

Here is a really cool article (http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2015/03031236-watch-ceres-rotate-a-guide.html). They used 27 images of Ceres and animated them to give you the view of Ceres rotating.





http://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/images/9-small-bodies/2015/20150303_PIA18920_destretched.gif
NASA / JPL / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / Emily Lakdawalla
Rotating Ceres from Dawn, February 19, 2015

[epo333]

Based on that gif annimation, those lights in the crater do not look like refected light from the sun. Looks more like they maintain the same brightness well into the "Dark Side".

Very interesting to say the least!!!

:cool:

edit to fix typo

[CasperParks]

It is very odd and interesting.

[majicbar]

12 hours to go for orbit around Ceres. We will have a chance to better see these spots. My bet is on an extended tower of ice over a geological hot spot. Instrumentation on the Dawn spacecraft should help confirm what it exactly is. It has been a long wait since it left Vesta.

http://www.space.com/28716-dwarf-planet-ceres-dawn-science.html

[majicbar]

12 hours to go for orbit around Ceres. We will have a chance to better see these spots. My bet is on an extended tower of ice over a geological hot spot. Instrumentation on the Dawn spacecraft should help confirm what it exactly is. It has been a long wait since it left Vesta.

http://www.space.com/28716-dwarf-planet-ceres-dawn-science.html

Success, in orbit of dwarf planet Ceres.

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/march/nasa-spacecraft-becomes-first-to-orbit-a-dwarf-planet/#.VPnT2Y738yi

[Longeyes]

This article has a spinning Ceres
http://mashable.com/2015/03/02/ceres-lights-gif/

The lights look more than shinny salt deposits to me.
But no doubt find out soon enough

[Longeyes]

For the latest on this Dawn has her own website, hope she shows us some more pictures soon :biggrin2:

http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov

[majicbar]

For the latest on this Dawn has her own website, hope she shows us some more pictures soon :biggrin2:

http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov

JPL has really gotten tight in releasing images. Part of the problem is that as it works down toward Ceres from high orbit to the initial science orbit they want to be careful not to contaminate camera lenses. But you think they could easily show at least one revolution of Ceres as it proceeds.

[epo333]

New image of Ceres is part of a sequence taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on May 16, 2015, from a distance of 4,500 miles.

See the link...

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/dawn/ceres-bright-spots-seen-closer-than-ever

[epo333]

A new view of Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on May 23, shows finer detail is becoming visible on the dwarf planet. The spacecraft snapped the image at a distance of 3,200 miles (5,100 kilometers) with a resolution of 1,600 feet (480 meters) per pixel. The image is part of a sequence taken for navigational purposes.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4605




Based on that gif annimation, those lights in the crater do not look like refected light from the sun. Looks more like they maintain the same brightness well into the "Dark Side".

Very interesting to say the least!!!

:cool:


I'm still skeptical of ice or salt deposits on the surface there. What ever it is I think it has it own illumination.

After transmitting these images to Earth on May 23, Dawn resumed ion-thrusting toward its second mapping orbit. On June 3, Dawn will enter this orbit and spend the rest of the month observing Ceres from 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) above the surface. Each orbit during this time will be about three days, allowing the spacecraft to conduct an intensive study of Ceres.

[majicbar]

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4619

JUNE 10, 2015.... New images of dwarf planet Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, show the cratered surface of this mysterious world in sharper detail than ever before. These are among the first snapshots from Dawn's second mapping orbit, which is 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) above Ceres.

The region with the brightest spots is in a crater about 55 miles (90 kilometers) across. The spots consist of many individual bright points of differing sizes, with a central cluster. So far, scientists have found no obvious explanation for their observed locations or brightness levels.

Read more in link above.

[newyorklily]

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4619

JUNE 10, 2015.... New images of dwarf planet Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, show the cratered surface of this mysterious world in sharper detail than ever before. These are among the first snapshots from Dawn's second mapping orbit, which is 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) above Ceres.

The region with the brightest spots is in a crater about 55 miles (90 kilometers) across. The spots consist of many individual bright points of differing sizes, with a central cluster. So far, scientists have found no obvious explanation for their observed locations or brightness levels.

Read more in link above.

Kind of reminds me of some scenes in this video but on a smaller, more localized scale. A colony under some sort of bio dome maybe?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev9oPUNaqXE

[Longeyes]

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4619

JUNE 10, 2015.... New images of dwarf planet Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, show the cratered surface of this mysterious world in sharper detail than ever before. These are among the first snapshots from Dawn's second mapping orbit, which is 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) above Ceres.

The region with the brightest spots is in a crater about 55 miles (90 kilometers) across. The spots consist of many individual bright points of differing sizes, with a central cluster. So far, scientists have found no obvious explanation for their observed locations or brightness levels.

Read more in link above.

Seems they are still stumped there must be a load more photos of those lights by now.

[Longeyes]

This page shows an animation
The lights don't vary in brightness as it rotates in relation to the sun. That basically means they are generating thier own light. There is a larger crater, slightly above where the lights appear, something in that crater gets brighter as the sun hits it and fades. The lights however seem stay at the same intensity.
http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/dawn/ceres-animation-showcases-bright-spots

[epo333]

This page shows an animation
The lights don't vary in brightness as it rotates in relation to the sun. That basically means they are generating thier own light. There is a larger crater, slightly above where the lights appear, something in that crater gets brighter as the sun hits it and fades. The lights however seem stay at the same intensity.
http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/dawn/ceres-animation-showcases-bright-spots

Thanks for putting that up Longeyes, ya know, I notice a hexagonal crater comes into view just at the end of the rotation cycle. These are seen on other moons in the solar system too, but here I see only one on Ceres.

Anyway its at about 11 o'clock on the last frame.

[majicbar]

Thanks for putting that up Longeyes, ya know, I notice a hexagonal crater comes into view just at the end of the rotation cycle. These are seen on other moons in the solar system too, but here I see only one on Ceres.

Anyway its at about 11 o'clock on the last frame.

Hexagonal craters are formed when the crystalline structure of the underlying rock is hexagonal. If you look closely at the structure of the "Devil's Tower" it is composed of interlocking hexagons. There are many other areas of hexagonal bedrock on Earth and by the principle of Uniformitarianism basaltic flow volcanism will cause hexagonal crystalline structures and thus cratering anywhere in such "ground" will show hexagonal patterning as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basalt

[newyorklily]

NASA spots three mile tall pyramid and more bright spots on Ceres.

http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/3-mile-tall-pyramid-more-bright-spots-spied-on-ceres/

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[newyorklily]

This picture of the bright spots was taken June 9.

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/pia19579/dawn-survey-orbit-image-11

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[epo333]

This picture of the bright spots was taken June 9.

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/pia19579/dawn-survey-orbit-image-11

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Looks like the best shot of that glowing stuff to date.

After clicking on the image I was able to blow it up to 400% (windows 7 feature) very interesting.

What element can glow or burn like that without oxygen...?

Magnesium...?

[majicbar]

Looks like the best shot of that glowing stuff to date.

After clicking on the image I was able to blow it up to 400% (windows 7 feature) very interesting.

What element can glow or burn like that without oxygen...?

Magnesium...?

It is an illusion, the "spots" are pure white and Ceres is very dark giving the appearance of being bright, or glowing. When the final analysis comes out, this will not be nearly so big a mystery.

[newyorklily]

This CNN article points out what looks like a pyramid on Ceres, not far from one of the bright spots. Someone on Facebook enlarged the pyramid shape and it shows what looks like holes and grooves which do not look naturally made (IMO).

Also, scroll down in the article. There is a side by side comparison of the bright spot on Ceres and a night photo of Las Vegas taken from space. The resemblance is freaky.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/23/us/feat-ceres-pyramid/index.html

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[Edward]

This CNN article points out what looks like a pyramid on Ceres, not far from one of the bright spots. Someone on Facebook enlarged the pyramid shape and it shows what looks like holes and grooves which do not look naturally made (IMO).

Also, scroll down in the article. There is a side by side comparison of the bright spot on Ceres and a night photo of Las Vegas taken from space. The resemblance is freaky.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/23/us/feat-ceres-pyramid/index.html

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Wow!! That is indeed a very freaky resemblance.

Edward

[majicbar]

Guys, I do not see a pyramid, a pyramid is made with triangular, flat sides. I see a cone. I suspect this is a form of volcanic cone. There seems to be an element of almost mass hysteria in calling this a pyramid. A pyramid implies construction and possible alien involvement. It looks more natural than something I would be calling a pyramid. As to the comparison with Las Vegas, nothing so far has indicated in the least the bright spots having self illumination or artificiality.

[Garuda]

Guys, I do not see a pyramid, a pyramid is made with triangular, flat sides. I see a cone. I suspect this is a form of volcanic cone. There seems to be an element of almost mass hysteria in calling this a pyramid. A pyramid implies construction and possible alien involvement. It looks more natural than something I would be calling a pyramid. As to the comparison with Las Vegas, nothing so far has indicated in the least the bright spots having self illumination or artificiality.

I agree: my first reaction to the 'pyramid' also was: "that isn't a pyramid." It looks like a volcano.

As for the lights, the 'maybe the result of ice volcanoes' theory seems the most plausible to me at this stage.

[xDhirax]

Based on that gif annimation, those lights in the crater do not look like refected light from the sun. Looks more like they maintain the same brightness well into the "Dark Side".

Very interesting to say the least!!!

:cool:

edit to fix typoExactly. No way is it "ice" (LOL) or even salt for that very reason...


This page shows an animation
The lights don't vary in brightness as it rotates in relation to the sun. That basically means they are generating thier own light. There is a larger crater, slightly above where the lights appear, something in that crater gets brighter as the sun hits it and fades. The lights however seem stay at the same intensity.
http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/dawn/ceres-animation-showcases-bright-spotsBrilliantly stated. EXACTLY. It is self illuminated. A better explanation would be some corroded metallic interior... that's more acceptable than ice. But it is something illuminated from within that crater...

[xDhirax]

I agree: my first reaction to the 'pyramid' also was: "that isn't a pyramid." It looks like a volcano.

As for the lights, the 'maybe the result of ice volcanoes' theory seems the most plausible to me at this stage.

Yeah it may not look like an exact pyramid, BUT... it does look like an anomaly that sticks out like a sore thumb.... why are there no others visible (thus far)???



If we want a real pyramid, check out the latest one on mars. That one is undeniable:
1367

[Garuda]

Yeah it may not look like an exact pyramid, BUT... it does look like an anomaly that sticks out like a sore thumb.... why are there no others visible (thus far)???



If we want a real pyramid, check out the latest one on mars. That one is undeniable:
1367

In a way, Mount Olympus on Mars is comparable: it's the only one of its size on Mars, one giant volcano.
It's not because there is one that there has to be a second one.
It makes even less sense to claim it can't be one because there isn't a second one.

And, yes, that new image of this pyramid on Mars looks far more like a pyramid, and will in all likelihood be harder to explain.

[CasperParks]

Yeah it may not look like an exact pyramid, BUT... it does look like an anomaly that sticks out like a sore thumb.... why are there no others visible (thus far)???

If we want a real pyramid, check out the latest one on mars. That one is undeniable:
1367


In a way, Mount Olympus on Mars is comparable: it's the only one of its size on Mars, one giant volcano.
It's not because there is one that there has to be a second one.
It makes even less sense to claim it can't be one because there isn't a second one.

And, yes, that new image of this pyramid on Mars looks far more like a pyramid, and will in all likelihood be harder to explain.

I hope that isn't photo-shopped.

I suspect there are ancient structures on Mars.

If NASA decided to confirm something like this - Watch how fast a human mission to Mars would happen.

[xDhirax]

It's not photoshopped.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szw9OvJzsp8

[CasperParks]

It's not photoshopped.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szw9OvJzsp8

XDhirax,

Thanks for sharing video link.

Unsure if object is sticking from side or top of a hill, or straight out of the ground and camera angle makes it appear otherwise.

At this point, I'll go with looks like a real image from Rover.

[epo333]

July 6, 2015

Dawn Holding in Second Mapping Orbit


DAWN MISSION STATUS REPORT

NASA's Dawn spacecraft is healthy and stable, after experiencing an anomaly in the system that controls its orientation. It is still in its second mapping orbit 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) above dwarf planet Ceres.


On June 30, shortly after turning on its ion engine to begin the gradual spiral down to the next mapping orbit, its protective software detected the anomaly. Dawn responded as designed by stopping all activities (including thrusting), reconfiguring its systems to safe mode and transmitting a radio signal to request further instructions. On July 1 and 2, engineers made configuration changes needed to return the spacecraft to its normal operating mode. The spacecraft is out of safe mode, using the main antenna to communicate with Earth.


Dawn will remain at its current orbital altitude until the operations team has completed an analysis of what occurred and has updated the flight plan.


Because of the versatility of Dawn's ion propulsion system and the flexibility of the mission's plan for exploring Ceres, there is no special "window" for starting or completing the spiral to the third mapping orbit. The plans for the third and fourth mapping orbits can be shifted to new dates without significant changes in objectives or productivity.

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/dawn-holding-in-second-mapping-orbit

[majicbar]

It's not photoshopped.....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szw9OvJzsp8

I do not think that this is a true pyramid, I rather think that it is the corner of a cubic, or rectangular, block which is buried in the ground and has its corner vertically inclined (it is buried at an angle) . What I find compelling is that I used to work with monumental stones in a granite memorial shop here in Minneapolis and this stone has been dressed, cut to 90 degree angles. While one dimension might be angled by coincidence to be straight over such a long distance, we would need that to happen three times and it would have to happen in such a way as to generate a true cubic corner. We would have to find that with some regularity in this field of rocks, yet it is the only one I see. It does not happen in nature that we would have such a rock, this is artificial.

[Marvin]

I'm still skeptical of ice or salt deposits on the surface there. What ever it is I think it has it own illumination.





After seeing this GIF composite from NASA (of time laps Ceres photos), the bright spots on Ceres do not appear to be self-luminous... they are definitely interacting with Sunlight.

Watch the GIF here (it is the first photo displayed):

http://news.discovery.com/space/what-are-ceres-mysterious-white-spots-you-decide-150427.htm?utm_source=zergnet.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_511081



M

[Marvin]

Here is a direct link to that GIF:


http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/blogs/dnews-files-2015-04-dawn-ceres-anim-150427-gif.gif


There are two "bright spots," watch their interaction with the Sun and shadow. Use your refresh button to restart the GIF.


M

[epo333]

Maybe . . .

I think many are researching for something more like this...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6goNzXrmFs#t=20

Could we be there already, with the likes of stories of the secret space programs...?

or active contactees ...?

...not enough Disclosure just yet...!

Why?

...Fear and misunderstanding...

~

[newyorklily]

Scientists are now finding that the bright lights on Ceres are creating a mini atmosphere within the confines of the crater

http://m.space.com/30054-dwarf-planet-ceres-bright-spots-atmosphere.html?cmpid=514630_20150727_49799366&adbid=10152967494556466&adbpl=fb&adbpr=17610706465

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[Garuda]

Scientists are now finding that the bright lights on Ceres are creating a mini atmosphere within the confines of the crater

http://m.space.com/30054-dwarf-planet-ceres-bright-spots-atmosphere.html?cmpid=514630_20150727_49799366&adbid=10152967494556466&adbpl=fb&adbpr=17610706465

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This is getting weirder and weirder.

[CasperParks]

Scientists are now finding that the bright lights on Ceres are creating a mini atmosphere within the confines of the crater

http://m.space.com/30054-dwarf-planet-ceres-bright-spots-atmosphere.html?cmpid=514630_20150727_49799366&adbid=10152967494556466&adbpl=fb&adbpr=17610706465

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This is getting weirder and weirder.

I'll agree...

One would think, the probe would've been detected and the lights turned out - or at this point, if it is an alien base perhaps this group of aliens do not care if they are noticed or not - or the probe was not detected.

Additional exploration of Ceres is justified.

[majicbar]

Scientists are now finding that the bright lights on Ceres are creating a mini atmosphere within the confines of the crater

http://m.space.com/30054-dwarf-planet-ceres-bright-spots-atmosphere.html?cmpid=514630_20150727_49799366&adbid=10152967494556466&adbpl=fb&adbpr=17610706465

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I believe that the ice volcano explanation will be found to be the answer to these "lights". The ices may be water, ammonia or a number of other chemistries that are being forced to the surface from underground reservoirs. Ceres was undoubtedly built of an amalgamation of early solar system objects from asteroids to comets which would feed underground "seas" once Ceres had a chance to evolve over 3 to 4 billion years. Ceres is indeed a very interesting place, worthy of continuing observation and study.

[Edward]

I believe that the ice volcano explanation will be found to be the answer to these "lights". The ices may be water, ammonia or a number of other chemistries that are being forced to the surface from underground reservoirs. Ceres was undoubtedly built of an amalgamation of early solar system objects from asteroids to comets which would feed underground "seas" once Ceres had a chance to evolve over 3 to 4 billion years. Ceres is indeed a very interesting place, worthy of continuing observation and study.

I've thought of this too but at the same time I asked myself if these processes are indeed going on why would it be so localized and not more abundant?


Edward

[majicbar]

I've thought of this too but at the same time I asked myself if these processes are indeed going on why would it be so localized and not more abundant?


Edward

As I imagine it a large comet got buried, or was the impactor that caused the crater that it is located in, if you look at the overall surface of Ceres there are other quite bright areas, so I suspect that maybe a quarter or more of the craters were comet impactors. It will be interesting to see what the experts say once all the mapping and various sensors have gathered all the data at Ceres. I think that the Rosetta Mission's observations of that comet complex will tell us a lot about the comet/asteroids that reside in our solar system.

[epo333]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=60&v=9eJaf6D64EY

Colorful new maps of Ceres, based on data from NASA's Dawn spacecraft, showcase a diverse topography, with height differences between crater bottoms and mountain peaks as great as 9 miles (15 kilometers).


Scientists continue to analyze the latest data from Dawn as the spacecraft makes its way to its third mapping orbit.


"The craters we find on Ceres, in terms of their depth and diameter, are very similar to what we see on Dione and Tethys, two icy satellites of Saturn that are about the same size and density as Ceres. The features are pretty consistent with an ice-rich crust," said Dawn science team member Paul Schenk, a geologist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston.


Some of these craters and other features now have official names, inspired by spirits and deities relating to agriculture from a variety of cultures. The International Astronomical Union recently approved a batch of names for features on Ceres.


The newly labeled features include Occator, the mysterious crater containing Ceres' brightest spots, which has a diameter of about 60 miles (90 kilometers) and a depth of about 2 miles (4 kilometers). Occator is the name of the Roman agriculture deity of harrowing, a method of leveling soil.


http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/dawn/new-names-and-insights-at-ceres

[majicbar]

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/ceres-bright-spots-and-more-072920155/?et_mid=772709&rid=246403664

Details on mid altitude orbit, Dawn in January 2016 will go to a lower orbit which should give greater detail of these points of interest.

[epo333]

1371

Tour Weird Ceres: Bright Spots and a Pyramid-Shaped Mountain.

This video shows a series of animations of dwarf planet Ceres, generated from data from NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/details.php?id=1392

[newyorklily]

The latest photo of the conical mountain. Taken on August 19 from 915 miles.

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/pia19631/the-lonely-mountain/

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[newyorklily]

http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19631.jpg

http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pia19631.jpg

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[Edward]

The latest photo of the conical mountain. Taken on August 19 from 915 miles.

http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/pia19631/the-lonely-mountain/

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I don't know about you guys but, it sure looks like it "might" be something artificial. Perhaps glass or some sort of crystaline base that is used to amplify sunlight to help keep what ever underneath warm? If you look closely it is a little bit transparent in some respects so what is it? Hmmmm I dont know but what ever the case may be its getting more interesting with each photo. Can't wait to see the 217 mile photo on its next go around and it's last picture taking opportunity.


Edward

[Garuda]

To me the shape of it looks like a 'low-angle' impact crater.

But that still doesn't explain the reflections.

[Dragonfire]

To me it looks like an old volcanic cone. Sun coming from left of screen and illuminating the sides. Material wise, don't know....

[Marvin]

To me it looks like an old volcanic cone. Sun coming from left of screen and illuminating the sides. Material wise, don't know....

You are absolutely correct Dragonfire on the illumination. The structure is being illuminated from the left by the sun (the crater wall directly below is in shadow on the same side).

As to being a volcano, (for me) the jury is still out. The vertically striated sides are not associated with any known volcanism on Earth. There isn’t any visual evidence of a crater at the top of the cone… but it could be covered over with ejecta (from local meteoroid impacts). The structure seems strange, but that in part is due to the difference in the mechanisms which form structures on Earth verses other worlds. I am sure there are a bunch of Astrophysicist and Astrogeologist scratching their heads on this one.


M

[southerncross]

Perhaps the eruption was of some liquid gas that froze immediately upon being exposed to the temperatures of space.
Just kicking it around.

[majicbar]

You are absolutely correct Dragonfire on the illumination. The structure is being illuminated from the left by the sun (the crater wall directly below is in shadow on the same side).

As to being a volcano, (for me) the jury is still out. The vertically striated sides are not associated with any known volcanism on Earth. There isn’t any visual evidence of a crater at the top of the cone… but it could be covered over with ejecta (from local meteoroid impacts). The structure seems strange, but that in part is due to the difference in the mechanisms which form structures on Earth verses other worlds. I am sure there are a bunch of Astrophysicist and Astrogeologist scratching their heads on this one.


M

It rather reminds me of some kind of crystalline growth like the Mexican cave crystals, megalithic in scale and grown from an eruption from below. We need to get closer views, otherwise it is really just speculation.

[newyorklily]

Here is an article, with a composite photo, just released by NASA.
http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/dawn-takes-a-closer-look-at-occator/


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[majicbar]

Here is an article, with a composite photo, just released by NASA.
http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/dawn-takes-a-closer-look-at-occator/


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http://cdn.phys.org/newman/gfx/news/hires/2015/4-ceresbrights.jpg

It pretty clearly looks like ice deposits and a vent that has ice around it.

[Longeyes]

This is pure speculation but
http://www.ewao.com/a/1-alien-life-on-ceres-new-evidence-points-towards-intelligent-life-on-the-dwarf-planet

[lionheart001]

Wouldnt it be funny to land a rover on that planet, drive up to the lights and find that its a 5 star Interuniversal hotel complex?

[newyorklily]

More possible explanations for the bright spots.

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/12/09/scientists-begin-to-unravel-mystery-behind-bright-spots-on-ceres.html?cmpid=NL_SciTech

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[southerncross]

Sorry somehow,I,missed this thread,...duh.

Duplicate post from Nature Magazine posted.

[southerncross]

Sorry somehow I missed this thread,...duh... My bad.

Duplicate post from Nature Magazine posted.

[Garuda]

The bright spots on Ceres are changing: http://www.space.com/32282-ceres-bright-spots-changes-ground-telescopes-views.html

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