SCIENCE Bright spots on Ceres: Are they moving?

[WhiteTara]

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2016/0316/Bright-spots-on-Ceres-Are-they-moving

Those bright spots on the largest body in the asteroid belt continue to baffle scientists.

Last year, a NASA space probe took high resolution images of Ceres, the only dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The images revealed a variety of strange, bright spots on the surface of the Texas-sized rock that remain unexplained. Now, a recent study published on the spots adds to the mystery.

A team of scientists studied the reflective areas using precision equipment at the La Silla Observatory in Chile. The equipment was intended to track the motion of the reflective spots caused by Ceres’ rotation, but the team found the motion and movement of the spots was far more complex. The data suggests that the spots may evaporate in sunlight and freeze at night.

"The result was a surprise," said Antonino Lanza, at the INAF-Catania Astrophysical Observatory and co-author of the study, in a press release. "We did find the expected changes to the spectrum from the rotation of Ceres, but with considerable other variations from night to night."

[Basic LA]

1. A fascinating find!

Can't wait to know what these are.

[Javaman]

2. An alien looking for its lost it's keys. nt