Asteroid belt world
Ceres is round like a small planet, but it shares its region with many asteroids between Mars and Jupiter.
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Dwarf planet lesson
Ceres
Dwarf planet
Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Kid fact
Ceres is the only dwarf planet in the inner solar system.
Dawn LAMO View of Ceres
Location
Asteroid belt
Kind
Dwarf planet
Visited by
Dawn spacecraft
Notable feature
Bright spots
Why dwarf planet
Ceres is round, but it has not cleared its orbital neighborhood. That is one reason it is classified as a dwarf planet.
Bright spots
Dawn found bright deposits in craters on Ceres. Scientists think they are salty materials left after briny liquid reached the surface.
Dawn spacecraft
Dawn orbited Ceres and also visited Vesta, giving scientists a close look at two major bodies in the asteroid belt.
Look closely
Look for craters, hills, and bright patches. Ask why a small world can still have an interesting geologic story.
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