Facts about Occator Crater
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Occator Crater's impact created a distinctive ray system visible across Ceres' surface extending thousands of kilometers, comparable to young impact craters on the Moon and Mercury.
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The ejecta blanket surrounding Occator Crater extends approximately 300 kilometers from the impact site, making it one of the most extensive on Ceres.
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Spectroscopic analysis by Dawn revealed that Occator Crater's bright material has a composition distinct from other regions on Ceres, with elevated concentrations of ammoniated clays alongside the salt deposits.
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Occator Crater's bright central dome contains localized thermal anomalies detected by Dawn's infrared spectrometer, suggesting ongoing cryovolcanic activity or recently exposed subsurface material.
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Between 2015 and 2018, Dawn's neutron detector measured hydrogen concentrations in Occator Crater's subsurface, indicating significant water-ice deposits within 1 meter of the surface.
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Imaging data from Dawn revealed that Occator Crater formed approximately 9 million years ago, making it one of the youngest major impact features on Ceres.
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Occator Crater's central dome rises approximately 1 kilometer above the crater floor, making it one of Ceres' most geologically complex impact structures.
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NASA's Dawn spacecraft detected water ice beneath Occator Crater's surface during its 2015-2018 mission to Ceres.
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Ceres' most prominent crater, Occator, displays bright deposits of sodium carbonate and other salts across its 92-kilometer diameter floor.