Astronomers have discovered that comets moving toward the Sun “stopped” at Jupiter’s orbit
Between the orbits of the giant planets comets were discovered. They move to the central regions of our solar system from remote areas - the Kuiper belt and even further located the Oort cloud. They are thrown here as a result of gravitational impact and collisions. Icy celestial bodies also come here from the area of centaurs - asteroids of rocky nature, dispersed in the area between Jupiter and Neptune.
Asteroids periodically come closer either to Jupiter or to another planet of its own type. At the same time, they are ejected by gravity directly to the center of the solar system and move back to the Kuiper region. From there, they move, so that by gravity they become blocked between the orbits of the giant planets. After a few million years, they gain a new orbit and become the same ice comets. They are also called JFC - comets of the Jupiter family.
Now the nature of this process, i.e. the transformation of centaurs into comets of the Jovian family remains unclear. It is also not quite clear how these celestial bodies move into the central regions of the solar system. So far, according to the available data and observation methods, not a single space object has been investigated for the entire time of such a flight.
Astronomers at the University of Central Florida Gal Sarid, along with colleagues, offer a solution to this problem. They published the results of their research in the scientific publication Astrophysical Journal Letters. In fact, we are faced with a completely different picture of the processes taking place in the orbit of the largest gas giant in the solar system.
Scientists have discovered that the bodies of the Jupiter family have a "temporary refuge." It is located in the outer part of the Jovian orbit. Currently, there are two centaurs, including 29P / Schwassmann-Wachmann 1. Periodically, this space object has a tail characteristic of a long comet. Mathematical models show that in this part of the orbit there can be 20% of centaur asteroids.
These celestial bodies only temporarily linger here. After some time, under the influence of the attraction of the largest planet in the solar system, they break out, go to the central star like ordinary comets. The 29P / Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 Centaur will set off on the same journey in about 4 thousand years. And in the same "environment" gravitational attraction will attract new centaur asteroids. Apparently, this process will continue indefinitely.
According to scientists, at least two-thirds of all comets of the Jupiter family can migrate like this. Whether they are a danger to our planet is not yet known. Perhaps the introduction of new space observations and close monitoring of such objects will help to clarify their nature and understand what they mean for our planet. They will probably help to find the answer to some questions related to the formation and further evolution of the solar system.
