MISSION
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January 31, 2013
Dawn Continues Ion Thrusting to Ceres
Dawn has devoted the entire month of January to thrusting with its ion propulsion system to reach dwarf planet Ceres in 2015. Dawn has traveled far enough from Vesta that the protoplanet would appear to the spacecraft only as a bright pinpoint of light.
January 3, 2013
Dawn Completes a Spectacular Year and Continues toward Ceres
Dawn ended its extraordinarily successful 2012 by smoothly continuing to thrust with its ion propulsion system to its 2015 rendezvous with dwarf planet Ceres. In December, as Earth and Dawn followed their independent orbits, they were at their closest distance in more than a year. As the spacecraft continues its interplanetary adventure, you can locate its position in the sky using the moon as a guide on Jan. 21. For more details, see the most recent Dawn Journal.
