List_of_centaurs_(small_Solar_System_bodies)

List of centaurs (small Solar System bodies)

List of centaurs (small Solar System bodies)

Non-resonant small Solar System bodies

The following is a list of centaurs, a group of non-resonant small Solar System bodies whose orbit around the Sun lie typically between the orbits of Jupiter and Neptune (5 to 30 AU). Centaurs are minor planets with characteristics of comets, and often classified as such. The dynamical group is formed due to Neptune's eroding effect on the Kuiper belt by means of gravitational scattering, sending objects inward to become centaurs, or outward to become scattered-disc objects, or removing them from the Solar System entirely. Centaurs themselves have unstable orbits with short lifetimes, transitioning from the inactive population of Kuiper belt objects to the active group of Jupiter-family comets within a few million years.[1][2]

List

The list of centaurs is compiled from MPC's MPCORB data file[3] based on criteria defined by the JPL-SBDB,[lower-alpha 1] and completed with objects from the List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects[4] and The Deep Ecliptic Survey Object Classifications.[5] by William Johnston and Marc Buie, respectively. As of April 2022, this table contains 928 objects. A dedicated column for each of these sources inidcates whether an object is considered to be a centaur (✓) or not (✗).[lower-alpha 2] The table highlights red and grey centaurs with a distinct background color (see legend).[2][lower-alpha 3]

Legend

  Grey centaur (52 objs.)   Red centaur (32 objs.)   Centaur w/o color indices (439 objs.)   Unlikely centaurs are greyed-out (405 objs.)[lower-alpha 4]

More information Designation, Discovered or first observed ...

See also

Notes

  1. The JPL Small-Body Database (SBDB), defines centaurs as "Objects with orbits between Jupiter and Neptune (5.5 au < a < 30.1 au)". Uranus and Neptune trojans are excluded if classified as such in the Johnston's Archive. A few unnumbered objects with a poorly determined obribt may be classified differently in the SBDB, as the orbital elements for this list are taken form the MPCORB data file directly. Chiron-type comets are only listed if included in the MPCORB data file.
  2. Alternative classifications to centaur (CEN) include trans-Neptunian object (TNO), damocloid (DAM), unusual object (UMP), and resonant trans-Neptunian object, for example "3:2", for plutino). In addition, the classification of the Deep Ecliptic Survey divides centaurs into a R and S group (CENTAURR and CENTAURS).
  3. An object's color ranges from BB to RR, split at a B–R magnitude of 1.45 into grey and red centaurs. Only for objects with a B–R color given in Johnston's Archive. Otherwise the table row is not highlighted.
  4. A greyed-out table row contains an object with a perihelion (q, highlighted in red) that does not lie between the orbit of Jupiter and Neptune (5.1–30.1 AU), and is neither listed as centaur in Johnston's Archive nor in the Deep Ecliptic Survey classification (DES).
  5. A bold designation links to an object's stand-alone article. In most other cases, a designation links to the corresponding entry in the list of minor planets or the list of unnumbered minor planets.
  6. The discovery information is taken from MPC's List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects or from a direct MPC Database Search.
  7. An objects mean-diameter is given in kilometers and taken from Johnston's Archive. Otherwise, a calculated diameter is based on an estimated albedo of 0.09 and an absolute magnitude taken form the MPCORB data file.
  8. The uncertainty parameter (U) indicates the quality of the current orbit determination (only displayed for unnumbered objects). In the Solar System Beyond Neptune classification (SSBN07) from 2007, an object is not a centaur, if it has a Jupiter tisserand (TJ) below 3.05 and a perihelion less than 7.35 AU. Additional physical properties such as the astronomical albedo, binary status, spectral type and B–R magnitude were taken from Johnston's archive.

References

  1. [1]
    Gladman, B.; Marsden, B. G.; Vanlaerhoven, C. (2008). "Nomenclature in the Outer Solar System" (PDF). The Solar System Beyond Neptune: 43. Bibcode:2008ssbn.book...43G.
  2. [2]
    Tegler, S. C.; Romanishin, W.; Consolmagno, G. J. (December 2016). "Two Color Populations of Kuiper Belt and Centaur Objects and the Smaller Orbital Inclinations of Red Centaur Objects". The Astronomical Journal. 152 (6): 210. Bibcode:2016AJ....152..210T. doi:10.3847/0004-6256/152/6/210. ISSN 0004-6256.
  3. [3]
    "Data Available from the Minor Planet Center – MPCORB.DAT". Minor Planet Center. 4 April 2022.
  4. [4]
    Johnston, Wm. Robert (2 January 2022). "List of Known Trans-Neptunian Objects". Johnston's Archive. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  5. [5]
    Buie, Marc. "The Deep Ecliptic Survey Object Classifications". Southwest Research Institute. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  6. [6]
    "List Of Centaurs and Scattered-Disk Objects". Minor Planet Center. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
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