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Newly Discovered Rings Reveal Chiron's Intricate Structure

10/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers have discovered a complex ring system around Chiron, a 200-kilometer-wide centaur between Saturn and Uranus, reported by The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The system includes at least three dense rings and a diffuse disk of dust and ice, indicating a more intricate structure.
The discovery stems from a stellar occultation on September 10, 2023, when Chiron passed in front of a distant star to map the rings and composition.

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Story summary

Astronomers have discovered a complex ring system around Chiron, a 200-kilometer-wide centaur between Saturn and Uranus, reported by The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The system includes at least three dense rings and a diffuse disk of dust and ice, indicating a more intricate structure.
The discovery stems from a stellar occultation on September 10, 2023, when Chiron passed in front of a distant star to map the rings and composition.