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> Artist impression of asteroid 2060 Chiron

Artist impression of asteroid 2060 Chiron

author: Ron Miller/Novapix

reference: a-ast99-94051

Image Size 300 DPI: 23 * 21 cm

2060 Chiron, also known as 95P/Chiron, is a minor planet in the outer Solar System, orbiting the Sun between Saturn and Uranus. Discovered in 1977 it was the first-identified member of a new class of objects now known as centaurs—bodies orbiting between the asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt. Besides the four giant planets, Chiron and 10199 Chariklo, also a centaur, are the only other bodies in the Solar System known to have rings. Although it was initially called an asteroid and classified only as a minor planet with the designation "2060 Chiron", it was later found to exhibit behavior typical of a comet. Today it is classified as both a minor planet and a comet, and is accordingly also known by the cometary designation "95P/Chiron".

Keywords for this photo:

2060 CHIRON - ASTEROID - ASTRONOMY - COMET - ILLUSTRATION - PLANET - SATURN -