NASA Ceres images focus on planet's bright and mysterious spots

"The images were obtained by Dawn during the mission's High Altitude Mapping Orbit (HAMO) phase, from which the spacecraft imaged the surface at a resolution of about 450 feet (140 meters) per pixel." NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

Mysterious bright spots seen in Ceres' surface are becoming clearer, thanks to photos taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

The images were captured from about 915 miles high in altitude with resolution that's way better than those images captured by the spacecraft back in June.

The two bright spots appear to be located in the center of the planet's crater called Occator. Dawn is set to map out Ceres six times for the next few months.

There have been so many speculations about the enigmatic bright spots discovered on the planet's surface. Some have theorized that the planet harbors layers of ice that reflects light from the sun.

Others thought they could be products of volcanic eruptions, while some went as far as speculating about an underground alien nest.

The bright spots were first discovered by Dawn when it approached Ceres in March this year.

Scientists still don't have any idea what's causing the bright light or how it ended up on the planet's surface.

According to Carol Raymond, deputy principal investigator for Dawn, who told CBS News, they still have no answer and the spacecraft has yet to map out the surface further to allow the team to analyze data.

Raymond even compared the surface of the planet as "peeling an onion," in which each time an image layer is removed, more mysterious things emerge. Understanding Ceres is a "journey of discovery on so many levels," as Raymond had put it.

As for the mysterious bright spots, Raymond said that the team is still debating on what it could be and they have no answers as of yet.

In late October, the spacecraft will start its journey to position 230 miles above Ceres, orbiting the dwarf planet from the closest vantage point.

The Dawn spacecraft has been in orbit since March and it will continue on through June of next year.

News
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster

Bishop Richard Moth has been confirmed as the new Archbishop of Westminster, the most senior post in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. 

The mystery of the Wise Men
The mystery of the Wise Men

The carol assures us that “We three kings of Orient are…” and tells us they were “following yonder star”. Can we be sure there were three of them? Were they kings? Where in the Orient were they from? What was the star they followed? In fact, there is a lot that we just do not know. This is the story …

English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day

English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.

Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'

Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.