Water vapor has been detected around Ceres, one of the largest asteroids in our solar system, by the European Space Agency's infrared Herschel space telescope before it was decommissioned last year.

"This is the first time that water has been detected in the asteroid belt, and provides proof that Ceres has an icy surface and an atmosphere," said Michael Küppers of the ESA.

The presence of water vapor in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter will give scientists an understanding of the evolution of the solar system and the distribution of water within it. Scientists will be able to get a better view of Ceres come 2015, when NASA's Dawn mission will provide up-close mapping of its surface.

Credit: newsy