Since its discovery in 1801, Ceres was known as a planet, then an asteroid and later a dwarf planet...Now, after a journey of 3.1 billion miles (4.9 billion kilometers) and 7.5 years, Dawn calls Ceres, home.
Now the mission can begin to study this mysterious water-loaded planet (estimated to have more water than all the Earth's oceans), including the bright spots on its surface. It seems as though we know more about exoplanets light years away than this nearby neighbor. That is about to change.