Violent collision shaped into Vesta

The new model is based on computer simulations of collisions between asteroid Vesta separated and a couple of rocks from 32 km in diameter in the last billion years. The results suggest that cosmic impacts caused Vesta's crust to melt and then re-form, with its thicker crust than can be explained by typical rock layers, the scientists said.

Collisions carved two large impact craters on the surface of Vesta. The oldest, Veneneia, formed about 2,000 million years. With a diameter of 395 km, the crater covers nearly three quarters of the diameter of Vesta Ecuador. Covering 90% of the diameter of Vesta, is one of the largest craters in the Solar System.

Dawn spacecraft leaves asteroid Vesta and the dwarf planet Ceres flies

The Dawn spacecraft is on its method to become the first spacecraft that orbited two remote celestial bodies of the solar system and studied. Dawn is on 5 September after over one year orbit around Vesta and leave this in 2.5 years to fly to the dwarf planet Ceres. Even these celestial bodies should examine Dawn at close range. The probe is expected in February 2015 in Ceres. Dawn launched on 27 September 2007. The end of the mission is scheduled for July 2015.