Minor Planet Called Chiron May Have Saturn-like Rings

Scientists may have discovered a minor planet with a ring system like Saturn's. Called Chiron, the minor planet may reveal new insights into centaurs, which are a class of minor planets that possess qualities of both asteroids and comets.

In November 2011, the researchers witnessed a stellar occulation in which Chiron passed in front of a bright star, briefly blocking its light. The researchers analyzed the star's light emissions, and the momentary shadow created by Chiron. The researchers identified optical features that suggested the centaur may actually possess a circulating disk of debris, which could signify a ring system, a circular shell of gas and dust, or symmetric jets of material shooting from the centaur's surface.

"It's interesting, because Chiron is a centaur-part of that middle section of the solar system, between Jupiter and Pluto, where we originally weren't thinking things would be active, but it's turning out things are quite active," said Amanda Bosh, one of the researchers, in a news release.

While most centaurs are thought to be dormant, researchers have seen glimmers of activity from chiron. Starting in the late 1980s, scientists have spotted patterns of brightening from the centaur, in addition to activity similar to that of a streaking comet.

Now, scientists have obtained more precise observations of Chiron, and it seems as if the tiny planet may just hold a ring system. In fact, the rings may be leftover material from the formation of Chiron itself.

"Another possibility involves the history of Chiron's distance from the sun," said Jessica Ruprecht, one of the researchers. "Centaurs may have started further out in the solar system and, through gravitational interactions with giant plants, have had their orbits perturbed closer in to the sun. The frozen material that would have been stable out past Pluto is becoming less stable closer in, and can turn into gases that spray dust and material off the surface of a body."

The findings reveal a bit more about Chiron. That said, research is still needed to determine whether or not the ring system actually exists.

The findings are published in the journal Icarus.

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