 In early 2014 , using data from the Herschel Space Observatory , it was discovered that there are several localized ( not more than 60 km in diameter ) mid @-@ latitude sources of water vapor on Ceres , which each give off approximately 1026 molecules ( or 3 kg ) of water per second . Two potential source regions , designated Piazzi ( 123 ° E , 21 ° N ) and Region A ( 231 ° E , 23 ° N ) , have been visualized in the near infrared as dark areas ( Region A also has a bright center ) by the W. M. Keck Observatory . Possible mechanisms for the vapor release are sublimation from approximately 0 @.@ 6 km2 of exposed surface ice , or cryovolcanic eruptions resulting from radiogenic internal heat or from pressurization of a subsurface ocean due to growth of an overlying layer of ice . Surface sublimation would be expected to be lower when Ceres is farther from the Sun in its orbit , whereas internally powered emissions should not be affected by its orbital position . The limited data available are more consistent with cometary @-@ style sublimation . 
 In early 2014 , using data from the Herschel Space Observatory , it was discovered that <a href='dey_it' title='1'><mark>there</mark></a> are several localized ( not more than 60 km in diameter ) mid @-@ latitude sources of water vapor on Ceres , which each give off approximately 1026 molecules ( or 3 kg ) of water per second . Two potential source regions , designated Piazzi ( 123 ° E , 21 ° N ) and Region A ( 231 ° E , 23 ° N ) , <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> been visualized in the near infrared as dark areas ( Region A also <a href='got' title='3'><mark>has</mark></a> a bright center ) by the W. M. Keck Observatory . Possible mechanisms for the vapor release <a href='drop_aux' title='4'><mark>are</mark></a>sublimation from approximately 0 @.@ 6 km2 of exposed surface ice , or cryovolcanic eruptions resulting from radiogenic internal heat or from pressurization of a subsurface ocean due to growth of an overlying layer of ice . Surface sublimation would be expected to be lower when Ceres <a href='drop_aux' title='5'><mark>is</mark></a>farther from the Sun in its orbit , whereas internally powered emissions should not be affected by its orbital position . The limited data available <a href='drop_aux' title='6'><mark>are</mark></a>more consistent with cometary @-@ style sublimation . 
In early 2014 , using data from the Herschel Space Observatory , it was discovered that it is several localized ( not more than 60 km in diameter ) mid @-@ latitude sources of water vapor on Ceres , which each give offf approximately 1026 molecules ( or 3 kg ) of water per second . 2 potential source regions , designated Piazzi ( 123 ° E , 21 ° N ) and Region A ( 231 ° E , 23 ° N ) , done been visualized in da near infrared as dark areas ( Region A also got a bright center ) by tdaW. M. Keck Observatory . Possible mechanisms for the vapor release sublimation from approximately 0 @.@ 6 km2 of exposed surface ice , or cryovolcanic eruptions resulting from radiogenic internal heat or from pressurization of a subsurface ocean due to growth of an overlying layer of ice . Surface sublimation would be expected to be lower when Ceres farther from thdaun in its orbit , whereas internally powered emissions should not be affected by its orbital position . The limited data available more consistent w cometary @-@ style sublimation .