Image 1 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: This image, made using images taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows Occator crater on Ceres, home to a collection of intriguing bright spots. The bright spots are much brighter than the rest of Ceres' surface, and tend to appear overexposed in most images. This view is a composite of two images of Occator: one using a short exposure that captures the detail in the bright spots, and one where the background surface is captured at normal exposure. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  Image 1 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: This image, made using images taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows Occator crater on Ceres, home to a collection of intriguing bright spots. The bright spots are much brighter than the rest of Ceres' surface, and tend to appear overexposed in most images. This view is a composite of two images of Occator: one using a short exposure that captures the detail in the bright spots, and one where the background surface is captured at normal exposure. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  NASA caption: This image, made using images taken by NASA's Dawn...spacecraft, shows Occator crater on Ceres, home to a collection of...intriguing bright spots. The bright spots are much brighter...than the rest of Ceres' surface, and tend to appear overexposed in...most images. This view is a composite of two images of Occator: one...using a short exposure that captures the detail in the bright spots,...and one where the background surface is captured at normal...exposure. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  Image 2 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA's Dawn spacecraft spotted this tall, conical mountain on Ceres from a distance of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). The mountain, located in the southern hemisphere, stands 4 miles (6 kilometers) high. Its perimeter is sharply defined, with almost no accumulated debris at the base of the brightly streaked slope.  Image 2 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA's Dawn spacecraft spotted this tall, conical mountain on Ceres from a distance of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). The mountain, located in the southern hemisphere, stands 4 miles (6 kilometers) high. Its perimeter is sharply defined, with almost no accumulated debris at the base of the brightly streaked slope.  NASA's Dawn spacecraft spotted this tall, conical mountain on Ceres...from a distance of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). The mountain, located...in the southern hemisphere, stands 4 miles (6 kilometers) high. Its...perimeter is sharply defined, with almost no accumulated debris at the...base of the brightly streaked slope.  Image 3 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image that shows a mountain ridge, near lower left, that lies in the center of Urvara crater on Ceres.  Image 3 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image that shows a mountain ridge, near lower left, that lies in the center of Urvara crater on Ceres.  NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image that shows a mountain ridge,...near lower left, that lies in the center of Urvara crater on Ceres.  Image 4 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA's Dawn Spacecraft took this image of Gaue crater, the large crater on the bottom, on Ceres. Gaue is a Germanic goddess to whom offerings are made in harvesting rye.  Image 4 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA's Dawn Spacecraft took this image of Gaue crater, the large crater on the bottom, on Ceres. Gaue is a Germanic goddess to whom offerings are made in harvesting rye.  NASA's Dawn Spacecraft took this image of Gaue crater, the large...crater on the bottom, on Ceres. Gaue is a Germanic goddess to whom...offerings are made in harvesting rye.  Image 5 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  Interesting view of the bright area called "Spot 1." The crater debris from impact ... looks like more bright features scattered like, well, like ice.  NASA info: This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows dwarf planet Ceres from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 6, 2015.  Image 5 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Interesting view of the bright area called "Spot 1." The crater debris from impact ... looks like more bright features scattered like, well, like ice.  NASA info: This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows dwarf planet Ceres from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 6, 2015.  Interesting view of the bright area called "Spot 1." The crater...debris from impact ... looks like more bright features scattered like, well, like ice....  NASA info: This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows...dwarf planet Ceres from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers)....The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was...taken on June 6, 2015.  Image 6 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: The brightest spots on dwarf planet Ceres are seen in this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. This is among the first snapshots from Dawn's second mapping orbit, which is 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) in altitude. The resolution is 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel.  Scientists are still puzzled by the nature of these spots, and are considering explanations that include salt and ice.  Image 6 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: The brightest spots on dwarf planet Ceres are seen in this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. This is among the first snapshots from Dawn's second mapping orbit, which is 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) in altitude. The resolution is 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel.  Scientists are still puzzled by the nature of these spots, and are considering explanations that include salt and ice.  NASA caption: The brightest spots on dwarf planet Ceres are seen in...this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. This is...among the first snapshots from Dawn's second mapping orbit, which is...2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers) in altitude. The resolution is 1,400...feet (410 meters) per pixel.  Scientists are still puzzled by...the nature of these spots, and are considering explanations that...include salt and ice.  Image 7 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  Another view of "Spot 1."  Image 7 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Another view of "Spot 1."  Another view of "Spot 1."  Image 8 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  The most infamous collection of bright spots.  Image 8 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  The most infamous collection of bright spots.  The most infamous collection of bright spots.  Image 9 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  Another view of the most infamous collection of bright spots.  Image 9 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Another view of the most infamous collection of bright spots.  Another view of the most infamous collection of bright spots.  Image 10 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  And ... another collection of bright material surrounding craters.  Image 10 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  And ... another collection of bright material surrounding craters.  And ... another collection of bright material surrounding craters.  Image 11 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  I keep thinking snow when I see these ...  Image 11 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  I keep thinking snow when I see these ...  I keep thinking snow when I see these ...  Image 12 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  Another crater, more bright stuff.  Image 12 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Another crater, more bright stuff.  Another crater, more bright stuff.  Image 13 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  It's like all the dark stuff is just a skiff of dust covering vast ice planes.  Image 13 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  It's like all the dark stuff is just a skiff of dust covering vast ice planes.  It's like all the dark stuff is just a skiff of dust covering vast ice...planes.  Image 14 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: This image, from Dawn's visible and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIR), highlights a bright region on Ceres known as Haulani, named after the Hawaiian plant goddess.  Each row shows Ceres' surface at different wavelengths. On top is a black-and-white image; in the middle is a true-color image, and the bottom is in thermal infrared, where brighter colors represent higher temperatures and dark colors correspond to colder temperatures. The three images appear slightly flattened in the y-axis and smeared in the upper part due to the motion of the spacecraft.  Image 14 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: This image, from Dawn's visible and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIR), highlights a bright region on Ceres known as Haulani, named after the Hawaiian plant goddess.  Each row shows Ceres' surface at different wavelengths. On top is a black-and-white image; in the middle is a true-color image, and the bottom is in thermal infrared, where brighter colors represent higher temperatures and dark colors correspond to colder temperatures. The three images appear slightly flattened in the y-axis and smeared in the upper part due to the motion of the spacecraft.  NASA caption: This image, from Dawn's visible and infrared mapping...spectrometer (VIR), highlights a bright region on Ceres known as...Haulani, named after the Hawaiian plant goddess.  Each row...shows Ceres' surface at different wavelengths. On top is a...black-and-white image; in the middle is a true-color image, and the...bottom is in thermal infrared, where brighter colors represent higher...temperatures and dark colors correspond to colder temperatures. The...three images appear slightly flattened in the y-axis and smeared in...the upper part due to the motion of the spacecraft.  Image 15 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: Among the fascinating features on dwarf planet Ceres is an intriguing pyramid-shaped mountain protruding from a relatively smooth area. Scientists estimate that this structure rises about 3 miles (5 kilometers) above the surface. NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 6, 2015.  Image 15 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: Among the fascinating features on dwarf planet Ceres is an intriguing pyramid-shaped mountain protruding from a relatively smooth area. Scientists estimate that this structure rises about 3 miles (5 kilometers) above the surface. NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 6, 2015.  NASA caption: Among the fascinating features on dwarf planet Ceres is...an intriguing pyramid-shaped mountain protruding from a relatively...smooth area. Scientists estimate that this structure rises about 3...miles (5 kilometers) above the surface. NASA's Dawn spacecraft took...this image from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The...image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was...taken on June 6, 2015.  Image 16 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 16 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 17 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 17 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 18 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 18 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 19 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows an intriguing mountain on dwarf planet Ceres protruding from a relatively smooth area. Scientists estimate that this structure rises about 3 miles (5 kilometers) above the surface. Dawn captured this image from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 14, 2015.  Image 19 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows an intriguing mountain on dwarf planet Ceres protruding from a relatively smooth area. Scientists estimate that this structure rises about 3 miles (5 kilometers) above the surface. Dawn captured this image from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 14, 2015.  NASA caption: This image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft, shows an...intriguing mountain on dwarf planet Ceres protruding from a relatively...smooth area. Scientists estimate that this structure rises about 3...miles (5 kilometers) above the surface. Dawn captured this image from...an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a...resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 14,...2015.  Image 20 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 20 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 21 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 21 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 22 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 22 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Image 23 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: A variety of craters and other geological features can be found on dwarf planet Ceres. NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image of Ceres from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 5, 2015.  Image 23 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  NASA caption: A variety of craters and other geological features can be found on dwarf planet Ceres. NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image of Ceres from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 5, 2015.  NASA caption: A variety of craters and other geological features can...be found on dwarf planet Ceres. NASA's Dawn spacecraft took this image...of Ceres from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The...image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was...taken on June 5, 2015.  Image 24 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  A cluster of mysterious bright spots on dwarf planet Ceres can be seen in this image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 9, 2015.  Image 24 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  A cluster of mysterious bright spots on dwarf planet Ceres can be seen in this image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400 feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 9, 2015.  A cluster of mysterious bright spots on dwarf planet Ceres can be seen...in this image, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft from an altitude of...2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). The image, with a resolution of 1,400...feet (410 meters) per pixel, was taken on June 9, 2015.  Image 25 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  The brightest spots on dwarf planet Ceres are seen in this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  Image 25 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  The brightest spots on dwarf planet Ceres are seen in this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  The brightest spots on dwarf planet Ceres are seen in this image taken...by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Credits:...NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  Image 26 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  This series of photos was taken from an animation made from images taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on May 4, 2015, from a distance of 8,400 miles (13,600 kilometers), in its RC3 mapping orbit.  Image 26 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  This series of photos was taken from an animation made from images taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on May 4, 2015, from a distance of 8,400 miles (13,600 kilometers), in its RC3 mapping orbit.  This series of photos was taken from an animation made from images...taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on May 4, 2015, from a distance of...8,400 miles (13,600 kilometers), in its RC3 mapping orbit.  Image 27 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  This series of photos was taken from an animation made from images taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on May 4, 2015, from a distance of 8,400 miles (13,600 kilometers), in its RC3 mapping orbit.  Image 27 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  This series of photos was taken from an animation made from images taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on May 4, 2015, from a distance of 8,400 miles (13,600 kilometers), in its RC3 mapping orbit.  This series of photos was taken from an animation made from images...taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on May 4, 2015, from a distance of...8,400 miles (13,600 kilometers), in its RC3 mapping orbit.  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Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  Image 45 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  Craters in the northern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres are seen in this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  Craters in the northern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres are seen in...this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Credits:...NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  Image 46 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  A large crater in the southern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres is seen in this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  Image 46 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  A large crater in the southern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres is seen in this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6, 2015. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  A large crater in the southern hemisphere of dwarf planet Ceres is...seen in this image taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 6,...2015. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA  Image 47 of 47 | Dwarf planet Ceres features  mages from Dawn's visible and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIR) show a portion of Ceres' cratered northern hemisphere, taken on May 16, 2015. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF  Image 47 of 47 - Dwarf planet Ceres features  mages from Dawn's visible and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIR) show a portion of Ceres' cratered northern hemisphere, taken on May 16, 2015. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF  mages from Dawn's visible and infrared mapping spectrometer (VIR) show...a portion of Ceres' cratered northern hemisphere, taken on May 16,...2015. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/ASI/INAF
Highest resolution photos yet of the mysterious bright spots on the dwarf planet Ceres show a complex of material that looks a lot like reflective residue such as salt or something like it, though ...