NASA shows what it would be like to fly over Ceres

Humans might not fly over the dwarf planet Ceres any time soon, but that doesn't mean you have to wonder what it would be like to soar over this miniature world. NASA just released a simulated flyover that uses real mapping data to give a new perspective on Ceres. The vertical detail is "exaggerated," the agency says, but the video (below) still gives a good sense of what this alien location is like -- it's a tinier, bumpier version of Earth's Moon. And if the level of detail doesn't impress you at the moment, you'll be glad to hear that the Dawn probe is entering ever-lower orbits that should boost the level of detail. Don't be surprised if later models are nearly as good as being there.