HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF CHIRONS ORBIT

We integrated Chiron's orbit numerically from 6000 bc to ad 18,000. Since Chiron often approaches Saturn closely, <1 AU, the evolution of Chiron's orbit obtained by an accurate integration is only of statistical significance. Slightly different starting values may yield a completely different orbit. Therefore, a cloud of nine variational orbits surrounding Chiron's orbit was also integrated numerically in order to get an idea about possible evolutionary paths. The calculations support the conjecture of S. Oikawa and E. Everhart [Astron. J. 84, 134 (1979)] that the dynamical evolution of Chiron's orbit is with a certain statistical probability similar to orbits of short-period comets. © 1979.