SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -Among the wide expanses of the solar system lives Ceres, which has the distinction of being both the smallest known dwarf planet and the largest object in the asteroid belt.

Detailed explanation-2: -With a radius of 296 miles (476 kilometers), Ceres is 1/13 the radius of Earth. If Earth were the size of a nickel, Ceres would be about as big as a poppy seed. From an average distance of 257 million miles (413 million kilometers), Ceres is 2.8 astronomical units away from the Sun.

Detailed explanation-3: -With the discovery of Eris in 2005, after 150 years as the head of the asteroid belt, Ceres became the solar system’s smallest dwarf planet. Ceres is still the largest, and by far the most massive member of the asteroid belt.

Detailed explanation-4: -If we compare Ceres to the smallest planet, Mercury, then it is 5.15 times smaller than Mercury. Our Earth is 13.4 times bigger than Ceres.

Detailed explanation-5: -There has been some ambiguity regarding surface features on Ceres. Low resolution ultraviolet Hubble Space Telescope images taken in 1995 showed a dark spot on its surface which was nicknamed “Piazzi” in honour of the discoverer of Ceres.