Exploration of Asteroids and Ceres

Bethany Ehlmann, a planetary scientist, shares her journey and passion for space exploration. She discusses the formation of asteroids and their significance in understanding the early solar system. The Dawn mission's study of Ceres, a dwarf planet, revealed unexpected bright spots on its surface, indicating the presence of salts and possibly past water. This discovery suggests that asteroids may have contributed to Earth's water and potentially played a role in the origin of life. Ehlmann emphasizes the importance of curiosity and exploration in scientific discovery.

What inspired Bethany Ehlmann to pursue a career in planetary science?

• Interest in marine biology

• A fascination with dinosaurs

• A desire to become an astronaut

• Curiosity about the stars and the universe

How old is our solar system estimated to be?

• 6 billion years

• 2 billion years

• 10 billion years

• 4.5 billion years

What is Ceres classified as?

• A comet

• A regular planet

• A dwarf planet

• A star

What unexpected feature was discovered on Ceres' surface?

• Mountains

• Bright spots

• Volcanoes

• Lakes

What is a spectral signature?

• A characteristic way a material reflects light

• A specific smell of a material

• A unique texture of a material

• A unique sound emitted by a material

What did the bright spots on Ceres indicate?

• Existence of a dense atmosphere

• Presence of alien life

• Existence of a salty ocean underground

• Presence of volcanic activity

What role did asteroids play in Earth's early history?

• They created the moon

• They caused mass extinctions

• They delivered water and carbon

• They formed the Earth's core

What are some of the key ingredients for life that asteroids brought to Earth?

• Oxygen and nitrogen

• Water and carbon

• Iron and gold

• Helium and hydrogen

What is one of the main questions scientists are trying to answer about asteroids?

• Did they cause the extinction of dinosaurs?

• Did they help in the formation of the moon?

• Did they play a role in the origin of life on Earth?

• Did they create the Earth's atmosphere?

What motivates Bethany Ehlmann in her exploration of space?

• Curiosity and a desire to learn unknown things

• A desire for fame

• A need for adventure

• A quest for wealth