#scienzainvideo The secrets of Ceres

The dwarf planet Ceres is the protagonist of the lesson of Maria Cristina de Sanctis, of the Institute of Space Astrophysics and Planetology of the National Institute of Astrophysics (Inaf-Iaps). Key to understanding some important points in the phase of formation of the planets of the Solar System, Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt and is rich in ice. Its composition is rich in minerals that formed thanks to the presence of water, such as clays and carbonates. The NASA Dawn spacecraft has been in orbit around Cerere since January 2015 and has studied Cerere in great detail, revealing some of its secrets, such as the presence of criovulcanism, residual fluids under its surface and the presence of organic material.