A new 3D model of the asteroid Vesta that also reveals its topography has been created from data captured by NASA's Dawn spacecraft which is still in orbit around the small rocky world.

The animation begins overlooking Vesta's north pole and gradually moves southward. The colours chosen show differences in the surface composition and a detailed view of the material properties of the asteroid. The green colour shows the abundance of iron. Vesta has an iron core with a diameter of around 220 kilometres and is believed to have formed in the same way as the other inner rocky planets.

Visible on the animation are the 'snowman' craters Marcia, Calpurnia and Minucia just north of the Vestan equator. Next you can see a band of equatorial troughs and Vesta's heavily cratered surface. As the viewing angle moves towards the southern pole, the large central complex protrudes from the massive Rheasilvia impact basin. The Rheasilvia impact basin has a strong greenish appearance signifying a region abundant in iron.

The 3D model was built from images taken in September and October 2011 by Dawn's framing camera at an average distance to the surface of 420 miles (680 kilometers). The images have an average resolution of about 210 feet (65 meters) per pixel. Further images are to be taken of Vesta's northern hemisphere to enhance the video.
The colour composite mosaic was prepared by the German Aerospace Ce.