Ceres: a Bright Spot in the Solar System

Interior Modelling of a Cryovolcanic Salty Dwarf Planet

Master Thesis (2024)
Author(s)

J.J. Lems (TU Delft - Aerospace Engineering)

Contributor(s)

Bart C. Root – Mentor (TU Delft - Planetary Exploration)

S. Cazaux – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Planetary Exploration)

M. Rovira Navarro – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Planetary Exploration)

R Saathof – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Space Systems Egineering)

Faculty
Aerospace Engineering
More Info
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Publication Year
2024
Language
English
Graduation Date
08-10-2024
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Programme
Aerospace Engineering
Faculty
Aerospace Engineering
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Abstract

Ceres is a small dwarf planet in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. In this work, its interior density, interior temperature, crust thickness and crust density are modelled with the aim of determining possible formation mechanisms for the cryovolcanic bright spots on its surface. The results imply that Ceres has a muddy subsurface ocean from which the cryovolcanic material originates.

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