The Forgotten Dwarf Planet Ceres

A. Definition of Ceres
Is Pluto, the only dwarf in our Solar System? Deep in the space hidden from our eyes lies a planet whose surface temperature reaches a whopping maximum of 180 Kelvin and as low as 240 Kelvin. Yes, We are talking about “The Forgotten Dwarf”, the largest object in the asteroid belt lying between Mars and Jupiter. Named after the Roman goddess of agriculture and discovered in 1801 by the Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi, Ceres is a perfectly spherical body despite being bombarded by thousands of tiny asteroids daily. It has been in discussion among scientists recently, as many believe Ceres is our best occupancy option. Ceres is believed to be the least geologically active body in the Solar System, with no evidence of volcanism, tectonic activity, or significant erosion. It has a low density and a low gravitational field, and its surface is covered in impact craters, suggesting that it has been relatively inactive for billions of years.


B. Overview of Ceres
Dwarf Planet is a designation given to celestial bodies that are too small to be considered full-sized planets but have enough mass and gravity to be nearly round. Being the most massive object in the asteroid belt, it is also the first object in the asteroid belt to be classified as a Dwarf Planet. Ceres is the only Dwarf Planet in the inner Solar System. Its surface is covered in impact craters, with some smooth areas that may have been caused due to cryovolcanism. Due to constant volcanic activities on the Planet, the surface appears shiny and dark when observed through telescopes. Ceres was formed 4.6 billion years ago, shortly after the formation of the solar system. It is believed that it formed from the same material that came together to form the other planets, moons, and asteroids in the region. The formation of Ceres was likely aided by the gravitational pull of Jupiter and Saturn, which

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Credits: Ron Miller, Mark A. Garlick / MarkGarlick.com
Credits: Nasa/Shutterstock/Storyblocks/Elon Musk/SpaceX/ESA/ESO/ Flickr

Video Chapters:
00:00 Intro and Definition of Ceres
01:13 Overview of Ceres
02:10 Ceres size and mass
03:10 Surface
05:20 Internal structure
06:00 Surface composition

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