Visualization of Chariklo and its rings ( left; ESO/L. Calçada/M. Kornmesser/Nick Risinger). Visualization of the rings as seen from Chariklo’s surface (right ESO). Credit: ESO/L. Calçada/Nick Risinger (skysurvey.org)
A team of researchers has clarified the origin of the rings recently discovered around 2 minor planets known as centaurs, and their results suggest the existence of rings around other centaurs (minor planets that orbit between Jupiter and Neptune, their current or past orbits crossing those of the giant planets). It is estimated that there are around 44,000 centaurs with diameters >1 km.
Until recently it was thought that the 4 giants such as Saturn and Jupiter were the only ringed celestial bodies within our solar system...
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