The Lords of the Rings among centaurs

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Therefore, at some point, as the object gets smaller, its irregular shape will become more significant and disrupt the formation of rings. This means that there is likely a minimum size for an object to develop rings, but this size could vary depending on the object's density and shape. In summary, the discovery of rings around the centaur Chariklo suggests that ring systems on smaller celestial objects may be more common than previously thought, but there is likely a minimum size for an object to develop rings due to the influence of its irregular shape on orbiting objects.
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PF_SpaceNews
The Lords of the Rings among centaurs

(Phys.org)—Chariklo, the largest known centaur object, orbiting in a region between Saturn and Uranus, is a very intriguing celestial body that surprised astronomers last year. This remote minor planet has unveiled the existence of its rings during a stellar occultation, when it passed in front of a star UCAC4 248-108672. Astronomer José Luis Ortiz from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia in Spain, who was a member of the team that made the discovery, assumes that the ring systems on other minor objects in the solar system could be more common than we think.

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Greg Bernhardt said:
Is there a minimum size of an object for rings to develop?
Well, as an object gets smaller, it can be irregularly shaped while at the same time the distance at which a it can hold to orbiting objects ( its Hill sphere) also shrinks. Thus I would assume that if you go small enough, there will be point that the Hill sphere will shrink into that region where the irregular shape of the object has significant effect on orbiting objects and it will not have any zone where orbits can form.
 
  • #4
The radius of the Hill sphere for smaller objects is proportional to their radius (at a given density). If we scale the object up and keep the shape the same, the influence of the higher moments of its gravitational field at the border of the Hill sphere will stay the same. The same is true for the Roche limit.

Smaller objects tend to have more irregular shapes, however.
 

1. What are the origins of the centaurs in "The Lord of the Rings" universe?

The centaurs in "The Lord of the Rings" are a fictional species created by author J.R.R. Tolkien. They are described as being half-human and half-horse, with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse.

2. How do centaurs in "The Lord of the Rings" society differ from other fantasy depictions of centaurs?

In "The Lord of the Rings" universe, centaurs are shown as being intelligent and wise creatures, often serving as advisors and healers. This is in contrast to other fantasy depictions where centaurs are often portrayed as wild and savage creatures.

3. Are there any female centaurs in "The Lord of the Rings"?

While there are no female centaurs mentioned in "The Lord of the Rings", Tolkien did mention that female centaurs do exist in his writings. They are said to live in the forests of Eriador and are rarely seen by outsiders.

4. Can centaurs communicate with humans in "The Lord of the Rings"?

Yes, centaurs in "The Lord of the Rings" are able to communicate with humans. They have their own language, but are also able to speak the common tongue of Middle Earth.

5. How do centaurs in "The Lord of the Rings" contribute to the story?

Centaurs play a minor role in "The Lord of the Rings" but are important allies to the main characters. They are known for their wisdom and healing abilities, and are often sought after for advice and assistance in battles against evil forces.

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