[LINK] "Bright Spots on Ceres Likely Ice, Not Cryovolcanoes"

[rfmcdonald]

Universe Today's Nancy Atkinson reports that speculation the bright spots on Ceres are ice volcanoes, erupting water from its interior, is likely false.

“These spots are extremely surprising and have been puzzling to the team and everyone that has seen them,” said Deputy Principal Investigator Carol Raymond. “The team is really, really excited about this feature because it is unique in the solar system.”

[. . .]

First, Raymond said the spots are consistent with highly reflective materials that may contain ice or salts. As an example of this, this morning, Cassini imaging lead Carolyn Porco tweeted an image of exposures of bright ice on Saturn’s moon Phoebe.

[. . .]

Secondly, Raymond said if the bright spots were a cryovolcano, they would expect to see some type of surface evidence of a mound, peak or crack. “We don’t see that with the bright spots so a cryovolcano is unlikely,” she said.

[. . .]

Third, — and this is also for anyone who may be thinking there is a beam or light-creating mechanism on the surface — team member Chris Russell said there is quite conclusive evidence that the spots are reflecting light, not creating light.

“We have followed the light curve into the terminator,” he said. “The spots do get darker and then go out when the terminator is reached.”