Dres (known as a minor planet), named after the ancient goddess of agriculture, is the largest object in the asteroid belt that lies between the orbits of Duna and Jool. Its diameter is approximately 93 kilometers, making it the largest of the minor planets within the orbit. Composed of rock and ice, Dres is estimated to compose approximately one third of the mass of the entire asteroid belt.
Dres is the only object in the asteroid belt known to be rounded by its own gravity. From Kerbin, even at its brightest, it is too dim to be seen with the naked eye, except under extremely dark skies.
In-game Description
"Dres is a very small planet. It was the first planet considered to be a dwarf. Its orbit is highly irregular and, together with its size, it took a long time to discover since half the time it was not where scientists expected to find a planet.
Due to its nature of frequenting the bad parts of space, this dwarf planet was officially labeled as Not to be trusted by the scientific community."'
History
Dres was the first asteroid discovered, by Giuseppe Piazzi at Kalermo. It was originally considered a planet, along with many other dwarf planets discovered, but was reclassified when many other objects in similar orbits were discovered.
Physical Characteristics
Dres appears to be differentiated into a rocky core and icy mantle, and may have a remnant internal ocean of liquid water under the layer of ice. The surface is probably a mixture of water ice and various hydrated minerals such as carbonates and clay.
One of Dres's most notable features is the various spots of salt deposits on some crater peaks. Scientists are unsure at the moment where they come from, but some are hinting that it is evidence of a possible subsurface ocean.
Possibilities of Life
Dres has been considered to possibly harbor life due to the presence of organic compounds on the surface, such as clays. Scientists have also uncovered new evidence of Dres possibly having a subsurface ocean, meaning life could possibly exist under the surface of Dres.
Biomes
- Salt Deposits
- Impact Craters
- Impact Terrain
- Lowlands
- Midlands
- Highlands
- Canyon
Trivia
- Dres is based of Ceres