What is Ceres?

Ceres is a dwarf planet located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is the largest object in the asteroid belt and was the first asteroid to be discovered, in 1801. In 2006, Ceres was reclassified as a dwarf planet, as it meets the criteria for being a spherical object in orbit around the sun and not a moon of another planet.

Characteristics of Ceres

• Size: Ceres has a diameter of about 940 kilometers, making it the largest object in the asteroid belt.
• Surface: It has a rocky surface with evidence of water ice and possibly even a subsurface ocean.
• Atmosphere: Ceres has a very thin atmosphere, primarily composed of water vapor.
• Orbit: It takes Ceres about 4.6 Earth years to complete one orbit around the sun.

Interesting Facts about Ceres

Ceres is named after the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain. It was also the first object to be classified as a "dwarf planet" by the International Astronomical Union in 2006.

Studying Ceres

Studying Ceres can provide valuable insights into the early solar system and the formation of planets. NASA's Dawn mission, which orbited Ceres from 2015 to 2018, provided detailed images and data about the dwarf planet's surface and composition.

Study Guide

1. What is the location of Ceres in the solar system?
2. What is the size of Ceres?
3. What are some characteristics of Ceres' surface?
4. Why is Ceres classified as a dwarf planet?
5. What was the name of the mission that orbited Ceres and provided valuable data?

[Ceres] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

• Our Solar SystemScience • Eighth Grade