Ceres and the Asteroid Belt

This video highlights the top five facts about Ceres, the only dwarf planet in the inner solar system. Ceres is significantly smaller and less massive than Pluto, and it was the first object discovered in the asteroid belt. It accounts for a third of the asteroid belt's total mass. In 2015, NASA's Dawn spacecraft made Ceres the first dwarf planet to be visited by a spacecraft.

Which of the following is true about Ceres' location in the solar system?

• It is the closest dwarf planet to the Sun.

• It is located between Mars and Jupiter.

• It is the only dwarf planet in the inner solar system.

• It is the only dwarf planet in the outer solar system.

How does the mass of Ceres compare to Pluto?

• Ceres and Pluto have the same mass.

• Ceres is 14 times less massive than Pluto.

• Ceres is 14 times more massive than Pluto.

• Ceres is twice as massive as Pluto.

What was Ceres' significance in the history of the asteroid belt?

• It was the last member of the asteroid belt to be discovered.

• It was the first member of the asteroid belt to be discovered.

• It was discovered after the largest asteroid.

• It was discovered before the asteroid belt was known.

What fraction of the asteroid belt's total mass does Ceres account for?

• One-half

• One-tenth

• One-fourth

• One-third

Which spacecraft was the first to visit Ceres?

• New Horizons

• Voyager 1

• Cassini

• Dawn