Ceres is the smallest identified dwarf planet in the Solar System and the only one in the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 1 January 1801, by Giuseppe Piazzi, and for half a century was classified as the eighth planet. It is named after Ceres, a Roman goddess. With a diameter of about 950 km (590 miles), Ceres is the largest and most massive body in the asteroid belt and contains about a third of the belt's total mass. It is spheroidal and its surface probably consists of a mixture of water ice and various hydrated minerals like carbonates and clays. Ceres appears to be differentiated into a rocky core and icy mantle, with brines reaching the surface. From the Earth, the apparent magnitude of Ceres ranges from 6.7 to 9.3; at its brightest it is generally too dim to be seen with the naked eye. On 27 September 2007, NASA launched the space probe Dawn to explore the asteroid Vesta from 2011 to 2012, and Ceres from 2015 to 2018. (This article is part of a featured topic: Solar System.).

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Featured_topics/Solar_System

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1739:

War of Jenkins' Ear: A British naval force arrived at the settlement of Portobello in the Spanish Main, capturing it the next day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Porto_Bello_%281739%29

1902:

While discussing how to promote the newspaper L'Auto, sports journalist Géo Lefèvre came up with the idea of holding a cycling race that later became known as the Tour de France. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_France

1979:

A group of armed insurgents attacked and took over the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, declaring that one of their leaders was the Mahdi, the prophesied redeemer of Islam. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Mosque_seizure

1991:

First Nagorno-Karabakh War: An Azerbaijani military helicopter carrying a peacekeeping mission team was shot down in Nagorno-Karabakh, disrupting ongoing peace talks. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Azerbaijani_Mil_Mi-8_shootdown

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

naughty step: 1. A place such as a particular step on a staircase or a stool, where a child is sent to sit in silence as a punishment. 2. (figuratively) A state of disgrace, exclusion from a group, or punishment as a result of a misdemeanour. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/naughty_step

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Democracy begins and will be preserved in we, the people's, habits of heart, in our character: optimism that is tested yet endures, courage that digs deep when we need it, empathy that fuels democracy, the willingness to see each other not as enemies but as fellow Americans. Look, our democracy is imperfect. It always has been. … But history and common sense tell us that opportunity, liberty, and justice for all are most likely to come to pass in a democracy.   --Joe Biden https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Joe_Biden