Beyond Jupiter - (2060) Chiron
Abstract
(2060) Chiron aka 95P/Chiron is a large Centaur showing cometary activity and possibly hosts a ring system. Comparisons to both 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 (outbursts) and (10199) Chariklo (ring system) are obvious. Centaurs are regarded as small bodies, moving in unstable, non-resonant, orbits between Jupiter and Neptune, and being in a transition phase between Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNO) and other populations of the inner Solar System, notably Jupiter-Family Comets (JFC). Chiron is one target of a proposed NASA Discovery programme mission named Centaurus.
- Publication:
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Journal for Occultation Astronomy
- Pub Date:
- April 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020JOA....10b..20K