Question

A detailed description, in your own words about Vesta
A summary of the geological processes responsible for this feature (or scientists current best guesses)
The references you consulted for this research.

Answer 1

In the asteroid belt, Vesta is the second most massive object, exceeded only by Ceres, which is known as a dwarf planet. For the naked eye, Vesta is sometimes visible from Earth as the brightest asteroid in the sky. This is the first of the four largest asteroids to be encountered by a spacecraft (Ceres, Vesta, Pallas and Hygiea). Vesta was discovered by German astronomer Heinrich Olbers. Kepler had suggested the presence of a planet between the gap of Mars and Jupiter in 1596 which was later supported by Johann Daniel Titius and Johann Elert Bod through mathematical calculations. Olbers observed the area and became the first person to discover two asteroids Pallas and Vesta. After the dwarf planet Ceres, Vesta is the second-most massive and potentially the second-largest asteroid and contributes an estimated 9% of the asteroid belt mass. NASA's Dawn spacecraft orbited Vesta for one year exploration en route to it's final destination Ceres. Vesta is the only known rocky protoplanet of the kind that formed the terrestrial planets (with a distinct interior)

Vesta is unique among asteroids in that it has light and dark patches on the surface, much like the moon. Ground-based observations determined that the asteroid has basaltic regions, meaning that lava once flowed across its surface. It has an irregular shape, roughly that of an oblate spheroid. Dawn spacecraft had discovered two enormous craters the 500-kilometre (311 mi)-wide Rheasilvia crater, centered near the south pole, and the 400 kilometres (249 mi) wide Veneneia crater. The combined scar produced by these two impacts was evident even in images from the Hubble Space Telescope, which also discerned a peak in the center. The Rheasilvia crater is younger and overlies the Veneneia crater. The fragments which were ejected from the collision creating these craters (Vestoids) were thrust into space and began their journey through solar system. Scientists believe that 6% of all the meteorites that fall on earth is a result of this ancient impact. The Dawn mission confirmed that howardite–eucrite–diogenite (HED) meteorites have the same elemental composition and mineralogy as Vesta's surface. Unlike other asteroids Vesta 's interior is differentiated. Unlike the terrestrial planets, the asteroid has a layer of cooled lava covering a rocky surface, and a heart of iron and nickel. This gives credence to the statement that Vesta is identified as a protoplanet, rather than an asteroid. Surprisingly, in many young craters pitted terrains and gullies have been identified, interpreted as evidence of erratic releases and intermittent water flow. The composition of Vesta is volatile-depleted, and certain hydrated materials are potentially exogenic.

Ref- NASA, Space.com