solar system
dwarf planet
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Ceres, before reclassification to “dwarf planet” known as the asteroid 1 Ceres, is a large rock-ice body approximately 950 km in diameter.
It was discovered on 1st January 1801 and was the first asteroid to be identified as such, although thought to be a planet at that time.
Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
NASA has launched an unmanned spacecraft (Dawn) to explore the dwarf planet closely as soon as it arrives at Ceres in 2015.
The animated GIF which can be viewed below shows the movement in the sky of this asteroid during the period of just 2 days (Nov. 28, compared to Nov. 30, 2011).
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Image information:
Object info
Name: Ceres
Type: dwarf planet
Constellation: n/a
Perihelion/Aphelion: 2.55 and 2.97 AU (1 AU = 149.6 million km)
Orbital period: 4.60 yr
Dimensions: 939 km
Discovered: 1801
Date & location
Date: November 28, 2011
Location: Landgraaf, The Netherlands
Equipment & optics
Total integration: 12 min
Camera: SBIG ST-8300M
Optics: TMB/LOMO 80/480
Mount: Losmandy G-11 Gemini
Image comments