Skip to content
Vatican Observatory
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
    • Ambassadors
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Donate
    • Overview
    • Donate Now
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • VATT 30th Anniversary
    • Fr. Coyne Fundraiser
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact
  • About
    • Overview
    • Team
    • FAQ
  • Telescopes
    • Overview
    • Telescope Images
  • Latest
    • Overview
    • Resources
    • Press
    • Audio
    • Video
    • Research
    • Authors
      • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Tucson Meteor Cameras
  • Podcast
  • Education
    • Overview
    • Resource Center
    • Image Gallery
    • Summer School
    • Books
    • Software
    • Additional Resources
    • ACME
    • Ambassadors
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Donate
    • Overview
    • Donate Now
    • Smart Ways to Give
    • Sacred Space Astronomy
      • View Content
    • VATT 30th Anniversary
    • Fr. Coyne Fundraiser
    • Bequests / Trusts
    • The Foundation
      • Newsletters
      • Annual Reports
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
    • Contact

Where are all the new images of Ceres?

By Robert Trembley  |  31 Mar 2015

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email

This entry is part 7 of 27 in the series The Dawn Misson to the Asteroid Belt

If you’ve been wondering WHERE ARE THE NEW PICTURES OF CERES?  Have a look at this video:

“This animation gives a three-dimensional view of Dawn’s complex approach to Ceres. The spacecraft deftly maneuvers into orbit with its ion propulsion system, flying to RC3 orbit, which is achieved when the thrust is turned off. (The size of Ceres is exaggerated compared to the size of the orbit here.) At the end, the viewpoint shifts to provide another perspective on the unique trajectory.”

Dawn’s capture and orbit insertion trajectory makes my eyes bug out – this is simply incredible!

This following image was taken on March 1st, shortly before the Dawn spacecraft maneuvered “behind” Ceres, giving only a view of its dark side:

This image was taken by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft on March 1, 2015. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

From the video, it looks to be mid-April before Dawn will be in a position to see anything on Ceres. Even then, it may not be able to see anything until its ion engine ceases thrusting on April 23rd, and it begins intensive observations. I’m giving a lecture about the Dawn Mission at Ceres at Penguicon – April 24-26… new images and some interesting data would be very welcome!

Dawn’s approach trajectory. We are looking down on the north pole of Ceres. The sun is off the figure far to the left. When Dawn is on the right side of the figure, it only sees a crescent of Ceres, which is illuminated from the left. (The white circles are at one-day intervals.)
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

More: Dawn Mission Blog

Share:
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via Email

Sacred Space Astronomy

The Vatican Observatory’s official digital community and online magazine.

Become a Member

Recent Posts

The Analemma and the Darkest Evening

By Mr. Christopher Graney  |  9 Dec 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

From the Vatican Observatory Faith and Science Pages: A Critique to Astrology from “De Civitate Dei”

By Faith and Science  |  7 Dec 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

An Evening with the Pope’s Astronomer

By Robert Trembley  |  6 Dec 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Where’s the Other Earth? Realities of Teaching Children in a Technological Age

By Constance Martin-Trembley  |  6 Dec 2023  |  Sacred Space Astronomy

Archives

      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • October
      • September
      • August
      • July
      • June
      • May
      • April
      • March
      • February
      • January
      • December
      • November
      • August
      • June
      • March
      • January
      • November
      • October
      • December
      • November
      • April
      • May
      • January
      • December
      • September
      • May
      • March
      • December
      • November
      • February

More Posts in this Series:
"The Dawn Misson to the Asteroid Belt"

“Faith in Science: Catholic and Jewish Perspectives on Creation and the Cosmos.”

YouTube  |  6 Nov 2023  |  Press

From Humble Beginnings

By Robert Trembley  |  19 Oct 2023

Newsletter

Upcoming astronomical events, scientific breakthroughs, philosophical reflections… just a few reasons to subscribe to our newsletter!

Vatican Observatory
  • About
  • Telescopes
  • Latest
  • Podcast
  • Education
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Donate
  • Press
  • Specola Vaticana
  • Contact
Privacy Policy  |   Cookie Policy  |   Disclosure Statement

Podcast:

  • Apple Podcasts Listen onApple Podcasts
  • Spotify Listen onSpotify
  • Google Podcasts Listen onGoogle Podcasts
  • Stitcher Listen onStitcher
  • Amazon Alexa Listen onAmazon Alexa
  • TuneIn Listen onTuneIn
Made by Longbeard