The dwarf planet Ceres is yet another small body to show internal heat produced by an unknown cause. The white spots that show up around the surface of Ceres are salt deposits produced by the upwelling of liquid brine onto the surface of Ceres. Ceres has an atmosphere of ionized water coming from the dissociation of this brine that is happening in an ongoing process. Water vapor has been detected above some of the larger of these white spots.
The Dawn probe has shown that Ceres has a liquid ocean under its surface. The Dawn space probe is orbiting Ceres at an altitude of 240 miles. Ceres is the largest body inside the asteroid belt
