JPL News: Centaurs' Origins Revealed with WISE Data

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In summary, WISE data has provided valuable insights into the composition and origins of Centaurs, small icy bodies orbiting in the outer solar system. WISE, a space telescope launched by NASA in 2009, mapped the entire sky in infrared wavelengths and captured images and data of celestial objects, including Centaurs. The data revealed that Centaurs have a composition similar to that of comets, suggesting a common origin. Studying Centaurs can help us better understand the early solar system and the formation and migration of other objects in the outer solar system. Further analysis of WISE data will provide more information about Centaurs and their origins.
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jim mcnamara
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JPL news:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-234
Paper:
http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/773/1/22/


Quick precis:
Centaurs are smaller bodies orbiting out between Jupiter and Neptune, that have been difficult to classify. NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) has provided data to show that centaurs are almost all cometary in origin.

Centaurs are named after the half-man half-horse of mythology because of their apparent dual nature: asteroids that have characteristics of comets.
 
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Jim,
Thanks for the post and links

never heard of the Centaurs before, learn something new every day :)

Dave
 

FAQ: JPL News: Centaurs' Origins Revealed with WISE Data

What is the significance of the WISE data in revealing the origins of Centaurs?

The WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) data has allowed scientists to study the infrared signatures of Centaurs, which are small icy bodies orbiting in the outer solar system. This data has provided valuable insights into the composition and origins of these mysterious objects.

How did WISE collect this data?

WISE was a space telescope launched by NASA in 2009 to map the entire sky in infrared wavelengths. It operated for 10 months, scanning the sky multiple times in order to capture images and data of celestial objects, including Centaurs.

What did the WISE data reveal about the composition of Centaurs?

The WISE data revealed that Centaurs have a composition similar to that of comets, with a mixture of ices and organic compounds. This suggests that Centaurs may have originated from the same region of the solar system as comets.

How does this new information about Centaurs' origins impact our understanding of the solar system?

By studying the origins of Centaurs, scientists can gain a better understanding of the early solar system and how it evolved over time. This information can also provide insights into the formation and migration of other objects in the outer solar system.

What are the next steps for studying Centaurs using WISE data?

Scientists will continue to analyze the WISE data to gather more information about Centaurs and their origins. This could include studying the composition and behavior of individual Centaurs, as well as comparing them to other objects in the outer solar system to further understand their place in the solar system's history.

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