N. Peixinho, J. Licandro, E. Lilly , A. Alvarez-Candal, A. C. de Souza-Feliciano, T. Seccull
Abstract
This chapter reviews the current knowledge of Centaur surface properties and composition derived from photometry, polarimetry, and spectroscopy. Photometry has been critical in providing initial insights into their surface characteristics and enabling comparisons with other minor body populations, despite its rather limited depth. Centaurs do reveal themselves to be somewhat distinct from their trans-Neptunian progenitors, but some early-found trends are still subject to debate. Polarimetric studies offer additional information, though they are challenging due to the faintness of Centaurs and remain too scarce to show their full potential. Spectroscopy remains the method of choice for studying surface composition and it has been used on the brighter Centaurs, allowing for the first detection of ices—water ice, mostly. While constrained by the limits of ground-based telescopes and transparency of our atmosphere, the recent advances in near-infrared observations with JWST allow the detection of a whole new range of chemical species and foreshadow a new era of discovery.
Centaurs
Maria Womack and Jordan Steckloff Kathryn Volk
IOP Publishing, Page 5
2025 May
