DAWN approaches Ceres

siffert_fan

Too old to watch the Asian races live.
Contributor
In two weeks, Dawn will enter orbit around the "dwarf planet" Ceres. It is essentially a less-well-known Pluto, and it will be fascinating to compare the two.

It will mark another triumph for the engineers who designed the xenon ion thrusters which enabled it to get there so (relatively) quickly. That propulsion system has really revolutionized space exploration by providing velocities never thought possible before.
 
Ok what are the shiny bits on the surface? Ice? quartz? Aliens?

PIA19185_700.jpg
 
Well I think that our name "Earth " is quite dull. Why can't we have something a little more exciting.
 
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