The Centaurs are a population of small, icy bodies in unstable orbits between Jupiter and Neptune, typically ranging from 5 to 30 AU from the Sun. They exhibit characteristics of both asteroids and comets, often developing tails when approaching the Sun due to sublimating ices.
This region bridges the outer planets and the Kuiper Belt, with objects scattered by gravitational perturbations from the giant planets.
The term "Centaurs" draws from mythology, named after the half-human, half-horse creatures, reflecting their hybrid nature. The first discovered, Chiron in 1977, set the precedent.
Significant events include the discovery of rings around Chariklo in 2014, the largest known Centaur, and studies by NASA's WISE mission in 2013 revealing many may be active comets from the outer solar system. These objects provide insights into the migration of planets and the delivery of water to inner worlds.
