In 2003, Rayner et al. used SpeX to observe this body's surface, suggesting that an unexpected albedo feature on it is due to Brucite.
In 2003, Rayner et al. used SpeX to observe this body's surface, suggesting that an unexpected albedo feature on it is due to Brucite. It is the largest body potentially subject to the dynamic closure/collisional erosion phase of the so-called Nice Model. Along with nearby Egeria, this body's escape velocity is one of the lowest known in the Solar System. The oblateness of this member of the Gelfion family dictates that it is differentiated; modeling by McCord et al. suggests a liquid water mantle. This body is expected to be visited in 2015 by the Dawn spacecraft. For 10 points, identify this dwarf planet that is the largest object in the asteroid belt and was originally discovered in the early 1800s by Carl Friedrich Gauss and Giuseppe Piazzi.
In 2003, Rayner et al. used SpeX to observe this body's surface, suggesting that an unexpected albedo feature on it is due to Brucite.
1 Ceres