As we get closer and closer to Ceres, we keep seeing new things. Initially, it was just the barest outline of the dwarf planet, then a strange selection of white spots, and, in these newest, sharpest images yet, you can see its mysteriously scarred surface.


This duo of images, captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on February 12th from a distance of just over 50,000 miles away from Ceres, finally lets us see some of the geographic details of the dwarf planet, which suggest among other possibilities an active past regarding surrounding asteroids and meteors.

Though, for some real answers on what's going on, both today and yesterday, with Ceres' surface we'll have to wait for some closer views. Fortunately, as Dawn gets closer, the views are only going to get better.


Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA