{
  "abstract": "The surface of Ceres exposed to the space environment will be gradually altered, but the evolution of its spectral properties remains poorly understood. Here we analyze visible and infrared spectra acquired by the Dawn mission to investigate spectral variations across different surface units. We identify local shifts of a few nm toward shorter wavelengths in the 2.7 µ m band center, predominantly associated with freshly exposed slumping and impact materials. Our analysis suggests that compositional variations in Ceres’ regolith are unlikely to be the explanation for the band center shift, and therefore it may represent a spectral evolution within 10 ⁶ yr. Combining previous studies about the spectral reddening on Ceres, we propose a two-stage spectral evolution on Ceres. The blueshifted regions are interpreted as the youngest materials. Within 10 ⁶ yr after exposure, these materials become spectrally bluer, the 2.7 µ m band weakens, and its center shifts toward longer wavelengths. Then the evolution is characterized by spectral reddening and strengthening of the 2.7 µ m band without the band center shift. Based on the previous laboratory work and observations on other C-complex asteroids, we suggest that the observed spectral variations may be attributed to the chemical and/or physical changes of the regolith, possibly associated with space weathering.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Sun Yat-sen University",
    "Chinese Academy of Sciences",
    "University of Chinese Academy of Science"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Qing 庆 Zhang 张",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2263-5165"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jian-Yang 荐扬 Li 李",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3841-9977"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yazhou 亚洲 Yang 杨",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9848-4650"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Minge 民歌 Liu 刘",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-5533-5671"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Yang 洋 Liu 刘",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7699-2507"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ddqas7ke5d4qz.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3847/psj/aea791",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "ddqas7ke5d4qz",
  "issns": [
    "2632-3338"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/PSJ/aea791",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3103|Astro and Planetary Science"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213288170",
  "pdf_url": "https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/PSJ/aea791/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-09",
  "publisher": "American Astronomical Society",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ddqas7ke5d4qz.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:16Z",
      "native_id": "10.3847/psj/aea791",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/PSJ/aea791"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "openalex:3103|Astro and Planetary Science",
      "subfield": "planetary"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Spectral Evolution of Ceres’ Surface and Implications for Space Weathering",
  "title_text": "Spectral Evolution of Ceres’ Surface and Implications for Space Weathering",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:16Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ddqas7ke5d4qz",
  "venue": "The Planetary Science Journal",
  "versions": [
    {
      "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2609.15158",
      "pid": "9cja9fha0wdfy",
      "relation": "preprint",
      "title": "Spectral Evolution of Ceres' Surface and Implications for Space Weathering",
      "venue": "arXiv"
    }
  ]
}