New Vesta images and video

The Dawn science team presented the best-yet images of the asteroid Vesta yesterday at a NASA press conference, including the first full-frame image (below). Dawn is just now beginning its regular science orbits around the huge asteroid, but has already provided new information and data, which will only increase over the next months.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

There is also a cool video showing a full rotation of Vesta as seen by Dawn.

Along with the huge crater with tall central mound seen previously, another feature of particular interest is the series of long grooves or ridges which extend partway around Vesta, clearly seen in the video.

The entire press conference can be viewed on YouTube: