December 7, 2015 -Dawn to Stop Ion-Thrusting Today in Low Altitude Orbit
Dawn is scheduled to conclude ion-thrusting for its spiral descent shortly before noon today. At that time, it will be orbiting about 240 miles (385 kilometers) above Ceres, closer than the International Space Station is to Earth. After it turns to point its main antenna to Earth, navigators will begin to measure its orbital parameters very accurately. During the next two days, they will analyze the orbit carefully and decide on Dec. 9 whether to make an adjustment at the end of the week. (It is likely such a trajectory correction maneuver will be needed.)
See also Dawn november blog
The following image of Ceres spots was released a couple of days ago. “One of the most intriguing features on Ceres, Occator crater, is seen in this oblique view from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft. This crater is 60 miles (90 kilometers) across and 2 miles (4 kilometers) deep, and is home to the brightest areas on Ceres. This image was acquired from an altitude of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers). Dawn took this image on Oct. 18, 2015.” True brightness.
