Dwarf Planet Ceres Still Stuns, 215 Years After Discovery

The dwarf planet Ceres was first glimpsed through a telescope 215 years ago, and as researchers learn more than ever, they continue to be amazed by the object. NASA's Dawn mission arrived at the dwarf planet last year and saw odd features that observers are still trying to figure out: more than 130 reflective areas are likely made up of salt, and the small body also hosts a rather large, cone-shaped mountain. "When [Italian astronomer Giuseppe] Piazzi discovered Ceres, exploring it was beyo