Recent research indicates that Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, may have a crust composed of over 90% water ice. This finding suggests that Ceres could provide valuable insights into the characteristics of icy ocean worlds.
Scientists utilized computer simulations to model the deformation of Ceres' craters over billions of years. The results revealed that the crust likely contains significantly more ice than previously estimated, which positions Ceres as a prime candidate for studying extraterrestrial oceans.
Discovered in 1801 by Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi, Ceres was initially classified as a planet before being redefined as an asteroid and later as a dwarf planet due to its spherical shape. With a diameter of approximately 950 kilometers, it has intrigued scientists for over two centuries.
Ceres is the only dwarf planet located closer to the Sun than Neptune and features bright spots that may indicate ice volcanoes on its surface. NASA's Dawn spacecraft, which arrived at Ceres in 2015, found well-defined craters that contradicted earlier expectations, prompting a reassessment of its icy composition.
Historically, scientists believed that a high ice content would cause Ceres’ craters to relax and flatten over time, similar to glaciers on Earth. However, the absence of tidal forces due to its lack of a planetary orbit suggests that any potential ocean beneath its icy surface would be frozen.
This new understanding of Ceres as a possible icy ocean world could influence future space missions. Given its relative accessibility compared to other icy bodies in the solar system, Ceres represents a compelling target for exploration aimed at uncovering the mysteries of ocean worlds.