Ceres

Ceres, the first asteroid to be discovered, is by far the largest and most massive body in the main asteroid belt. -it was found one year later within 0.5° of the predicted position.

-Ceres is the largest and most massive of the asteroids; it has a diameter of c.590 mi (949 km) and a mass 1/100,000 that of the earth.

-Ceres is a dwarf planet however. Seeing as it fits the critera for a dwarf planet. and has its own gravitational pull.

-Its [|orbit] has a semi major axis of 2.78 [|astronomical units] and a period of 1,681 days

-In 2006 the reconsideration by astronomers of [|Pluto] 's status as a planet also led to the reclassification of Ceres as a dwarf planet.

-the size and mass are sufficient to give it a spherical shape, like the planets. However, it is still much smaller than any of the planets

-Ceres may very likely be the only dwarf planet in the asteroid belt.

-The outermost layer is likely made of icy material including water and ammonia. media type="file" key="Dwarf_Planets.asf" width="300" height="300" -Size: Diameter: approximately 950 kilometers (equatorial diameter 974.6 +/- 3.6, polar diameter 909.4 +/- 3.2 kilometers) (about 1/13 or 7.5% of Earth) Mass: 9.43 x 10^20 kilograms (0.016% of Earth) Bulk density: 2.10 grams per cubic centimeter (less dense than rock, more dense than ice) -Distance from sun: Ceres is 415 Km from the sun -Average orbital radius: 2.767 astronomical units <span style="color: #ff4f00; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Orbital inclination: 9.73 degrees <span style="color: #ff4f00; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Orbital period: 4.60 years <span style="color: #ff4f00; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Rotational period: 9.076 hours <span style="color: #ff4f00; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">

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