The Brittle Boulders of Dwarf Planet Ceres

Abstract We mapped all boulders larger than 105 m on the surface of dwarf planet Ceres using images Dawn framing camera acquired in Low Altitude Mapping Orbit. find that are more numerous toward high latitudes and have a maximum lifetime 150 ± 50 Ma, based crater counts. These characteristics distinctly different from those asteroid (4) Vesta, an earlier target Dawn, which implies Ceres’ mechanically weaker. Clues to their properties can be found composition complex crust, is rich phyllosilicates salts. As water ice thought present only meters below surface, we suggest also harbor ice. Furthermore, boulder size–frequency distribution best fit by Weibull rather customary power law, just like for Vesta boulders. This finding robust light possible types size measurement error.