Dawn probe

The Dawn probe targets Vesta and Ceres, the two most massive asteroids. It will enter orbit around Vesta in July 2011, then depart a year later. It will arrive at Ceres in 2015. If successful, it will become the first probe ever to orbit two astronomical bodies other than Earth.

Resources

 The Solar System: Explorations in 2011 Find out about scheduled missions to our solar...
The Solar System: Minor Bodies: Asteroids At the dawn of the 19th century, a group of...
The Solar System: Explorations in 2012 Find out about scheduled missions to our solar...

Radio Programs

 Space Rocks Rocks from beyond Earth Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Dawn at Vesta III An asteroid with a difference Friday, July 15, 2011
Dawn at Vesta II A gentle ride to an asteroid Thursday, July 14, 2011
Dawn at Vesta Studying the dawn of the solar system Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Ready for Vesta Ready to map a giant asteroid Monday, May 2, 2011
Martian Dawn From Mars to the asteroid belt Monday, February 16, 2009

Featured Images

Dawn's first view of Vesta after entering orbit, July 2011
 Settling In Monday, July 18, 2011
Dawn spacecraft view of asteroid Vesta shortly before entering orbit
 First Stop Friday, July 15, 2011
To the Dawn of the Solar System Monday, June 25, 2007

FacebookTwitterYouTube

©1995-2012 The University of Texas McDonald Observatory