19 asteroids orbiting the sun between Jupiter and Neptune

Astronomers have found 19 asteroids that once belonged to a distant star system have been found orbiting the Sun between Jupiter and Neptune. The asteroids have been circling the sun for more than 4.5 billion years, since the very inception of the solar system.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020

Key-Points

These 19 asteroids from the Centaur family orbit the Sun on a plane that was perpendicular to planetary motion 4.5 billion years ago.

The findings 2 years after astronomers spotted the first interstellar visitor, the asteroid known as Oumuamua.

The asteroids belong to a group of objects called Centaurs. The Centaur family of asteroids roam the space between the two gas giants. Even the computer models can’t predict where they’ll be headed next.

The origin of Centaurs remains a mystery to astronomers since the first member of the group, called Chiron, was recognized in 1977.

Asteroid: An asteroid is a large chunk of rock left over from collisions or the early solar system. Most of the asteroids are located between Mars and Jupiter in the Main Belt.