The global curiosity surrounding the enigmatic light spot on the asteroid Ceres has sparked questions about its potential connection to extraterrestrial life. In a recent development, scientists from the Max-Planck Institute in Germany have unveiled the secrets behind this mysterious phenomenon.

The team at the solar system laboratory of the Max-Planck Institute for Research measured spectra and suggested that the 130 mysterious bright spots on the asteroid Ceres were hydrated magnesium sulfate, an inorganic salt containing magnesium, sulfur and oxygen, according to Daily Mail. Bright spots appear in the center of the Occator impact crater, about 90 km in diameter and 4 km deep.

The Dawn spacecraft, in its mission to explore this distant asteroid, captured details of the surface as well as the crater and sent images back to Earth.

The entire surface of Ceres is black and looks like asphalt, so bright spots can be easily seen. Mysterious lights fascinated scientists when they discovered them in early 2015. Ceres is the largest asteroid in the asteroid belt located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Ceres diameter is about 950 km. Scientists have discovered water vapor near this celestial body, thereby raising concerns about the composition and formation process of Ceres.

The Dawn spacecraft of the US Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is in the process of descending, approaching Ceres, which lasts 7 weeks. If successful, Dawn will fly about 380 km from the asteroid’s surface, the closest distance ever.