Overview

• Scientists at Purdue University and NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab used computer simulations to study the icy composition of Ceres.
• The research indicates that Ceres' surface is about 90% ice, challenging previous beliefs that it was less than 30% ice.
• Ceres' icy crust likely formed from a muddy ocean that froze over time, creating a crust with trapped rocky material.
• Simulations showed that Ceres' ice, mixed with some solid rock, can remain strong and resist crater deformation over billions of years.
• This discovery positions Ceres as a valuable comparison point for icy moons like Europa and Enceladus and a potential target for future spacecraft missions.