Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
10199 Chariklo
open-in-new
<p>10199 Chariklo /ˈkærəkloʊ/ is a ringed <a href="/facts/Asteroid/g7Ulr1VB">asteroid</a> or <a href="/facts/Centaur_(small_Solar_System_body)/jXpnm7dv">centaur</a> in the outer <a href="/facts/Solar_System/QIcLSazQ">Solar System</a>. It is the largest known centaur, with a diameter of about 250 km (160 mi). It orbits the Sun between <a href="/facts/Saturn/D54LcGJ9">Saturn</a> and <a href="/facts/Uranus/x7YwT1ar">Uranus</a> with an <a href="/facts/Orbital_period/94f56uh2">orbital period</a> of 62.5 years. It was discovered on 15 February 1997 by the <a href="/facts/University_of_Arizona/ehesIpKx">University of Arizona</a>'s <a href="/facts/Spacewatch/97cMRR0S">Spacewatch</a> project at <a href="/facts/Kitt_Peak_National_Observatory/FBuoAAkz">Kitt Peak National Observatory</a>. Chariklo has a dark, reddish surface composed of water ice, <a href="/facts/Silicate_mineral/WclrQW2I">silicate minerals</a>, <a href="/facts/Amorphous_carbon/lAUjjset">amorphous carbon</a>, and various complex <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compounds</a> (also known as <a href="/facts/Tholin/DLuT4Tde">tholins</a>). </p><p>Chariklo's <a href="/facts/Ring_system/KNCgIIX7">ring system</a> consists of two narrow rings of icy particles in orbit around the object. The <a href="/facts/Rings_of_Chariklo/NK2HRNYd">rings of Chariklo</a> were discovered in 2013, when astronomers observed Chariklo <a href="/facts/Occultation_(astronomy)/a9Q1KTPe">occulting</a> or passing in front of a star. Chariklo is first <a href="/facts/Minor_planet/GxoaU532">minor planet</a> discovered to have rings, and as of 2025, it is one of the <a href="/facts/Ring_system/KNCgIIX7">four minor planets known to have rings</a>. It is unknown what keeps Chariklo's rings stable, as it has been predicted that they should decay within a few million years. Astronomers have hypothesized that Chariklo's rings might be maintained by the gravitational influence of yet-undiscovered <a href="/facts/Shepherd_moon/jLu6Bfka">shepherd moons</a> orbiting Chariklo. The origin of Chariklo's rings is uncertain, with various possible explanations including ejection of surface material via <a href="/facts/Outgassing/IgMX4wUP">outgassing</a> or <a href="/facts/Tidal_force/GJgxo7gp">tidal disruption</a> of a moon around Chariklo.: 1 </p>