Artist’s impression of Ceres
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Radioactive matter within the dwarf planet Ceres may help drive geological activity there. With a diameter of about 940 kilometres (585 miles), Ceres is by far the largest member of the asteroid belt. In 2015 NASA’s Dawn spacecraft became the first orbiter around Ceres. The probe revealed the dwarf planet was covered in features resembling those from tectonic activity, such as a continent-like plateau and criss-crossing fractures. Now research suggests heat from the decay of radioactive elements within Ceres might help keep it geologically active.