Ceres' bright spots seen in striking new detail

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the bright spots observed on the dwarf planet Ceres, particularly in relation to new images captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft. Participants explore the characteristics of these features, their variability, and the implications of their brightness in different lighting conditions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the bright spots on Ceres appear to change over time, suggesting variability in their characteristics.
  • One participant mentions that the spots are brightest when they are on the day side of Ceres, raising questions about how this brightness can be observed from Earth.
  • Another participant challenges the claim regarding visibility of the bright spots in non-daylight conditions, expressing skepticism about the feasibility of observing them without sunlight.
  • Links to external sources are provided, indicating ongoing research and observations related to the albedo of Ceres and its bright spots.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the visibility and characteristics of the bright spots, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on specific observational conditions and may not account for all variables affecting visibility and brightness.

PF_SpaceNews
Ceres' bright spots seen in striking new detail

The brightest spots on the dwarf planet Ceres gleam with mystery in new views delivered by NASA's Dawn spacecraft . These closest-yet views of Occator crater, with a resolution of 450 feet (140 meters) per pixel, give scientists a deeper perspective on these very unusual features.

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Astronomy news on Phys.org
Here is a photo

4-ceresbrights.jpg
 
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Interestingly, the spots are brightest when they’re on the day side of Ceres, facing the sun.
Wait, what? Even if that is meant relative to the surrounding area (it is trivial in absolute terms...), how would telescopes on Earth see that? We barely see any non-daylight region, and we barely see any surface structures from Earth. Seeing the bright spots when there is no sunlight on them? I don't think that works.
The rest might be true.
 

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