Dawn's apparatus displayed indentations on the dwarf planet Ceres
The surface features of Ceres and its internal evolution have a closer connection than it might seem. A recent study examined the formation of a dwarf planet in order to find keys to the internal evolution of an object. Special attention was paid to linear features - chains of holes and small secondary craters.
The results led to the fact that hundreds of millions (up to a billion) years ago, the materials beneath the surface rose up, creating fractures in the cortex.
A needle in a haystack
Dawn researchers have displayed more than 2,000 linear objects with a length of a kilometer, located outside the impact craters. It was possible to distinguish two types of linear features: secondary crater chains — long strands of circular depressions created by fragments ejected from craters, and chains of depressions — surface manifestations of subsurface cracks. Only the second type is able to clarify internal evolutionary processes. The most difficult to differentiate between the chains of secondary craters and recesses. Features are similar, but still they can be distinguished by the details of the form. For example, secondary craters are much steeper pits, and the latter do not have raised peaks.
Formation of features
It is possible that the creation of cracks is responsible for the process of freezing the global subsurface ocean. But this option has little chance, since the holes are not evenly scattered on the surface. Also the situation with a large impact is not suitable. Most likely, the whole thing in the rise of the inner material, which is less dense from the surface. To confirm the theory, additional fracture studies will be required.
