The Dwarf Planet on Our Doorstep.

Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, has long fascinated scientists and inspired works of fiction. A recent study by a team of researchers, including planetary scientist Driss Takir, sheds light on the formation and history of Ceres and other large dark asteroids. Using new observations, the researchers found that these asteroids formed relatively late in the solar system's history, between 1.5 and 3.5 million years after its formation. They also discovered that Ceres, despite being unique in many ways, shares physical characteristics with other large dark asteroids, suggesting they are part of the same group. The study suggests that these asteroids likely originated from beyond the outer reaches of the planet-forming disk and were brought closer to the asteroid belt through various dynamic events in the early solar system. [Extracted from the article]