Perhaps in the presented photograph one can see far from the largest crater on the dwarf planet Ceres, however this is one of the most interesting for scientists.
Although usually all attention is focused on a large crater 92 kilometers in diameter or 57 miles, which was called Occator (because some ice remains in the center of its volcano were found on it), it nevertheless has rounded outlines, unlike the unusual Haulani crater polygonal shape with a photo.
In addition, it should be said that Haulani is a relatively young crater. This is evidenced by landslides around its “rim” and fresh soil. The information obtained is very important, because with the help of it, scientists will be able to learn more about the rocks of the dwarf planet Ceres.
“The crater Haulani gave us all the information necessary to study the surface of Ceres. This is a certain success,” said Martin Hoffman, a NASA co-researcher responsible for monitoring and operating cameras on spacecraft at the Planck Institute for Solar System Research. "The bottom of the crater is protected from external influences, so it contrasts so sharply against the background of older rocks of the surface."
But what is the cause of the polygonal shape of the crater? Scientists suggest that the answer lies in the internal structure of the planet Ceres. According to NASA, straight edges, which are so clearly visible along the rim of the crater, can be the result of both external and internal effects. Haulani was widely known in scientific circles, the study of the Dawn of NASA is still continuing a comprehensive study of Ceres and its lowlands, stretching about 385 km or 240 miles in length.
Planetary scientists also became interested in the Occator crater. Its peculiarity is that it received the name "hidden treasure". Although it is only 10 kilometers in diameter or 6 miles, the bright, mysterious spots in particular could not go unnoticed. Occator also allows you to see some interesting elements in the structure of Ceres. On one of its sides, the ground material is at a lower level of the surface, which demonstrates deep fractures and perhaps even caves in the rock.
"Little Okkator can make a great contribution to the development of science in the study of the surface of Ceres," said Chris Russell, NASA research supervisor at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The drone will not complete its mission soon, because it has to collect all the data accumulated in more than a year, only after that the spacecraft will be able to return to Earth. Obtaining such detailed knowledge of Ceres, scientists can “read it” as an open book related to the mythical worlds, because before humanity could not have thought that it could ever reach such heights in the field of space, and most importantly, be able to understand in detail the process formation of planets.
