This strange celestial object in our solar system has something in common with Saturn

Space is a vast and mysterious place, and every year scientists make numerous discoveries. This is the case with this small planetoid, named Chiron, which shares a surprising similarity with Saturn.

Discovered in 1977 by Charles T. Kowal, this celestial object was categorized as an asteroid, but also as a comet. And with a diameter between 166 and 313 kilometers, it surprised many astronomers during its passage in front of a star in 2023. 

Indeed, during this event, scientists observed a variation in the star’s brightness. And to understand the reasons for this element, they made a comparison with other observations, which led to the discovery of three rings around this celestial object, located at 273 km, 325 km, and 438 km.

Therefore, a study was conducted and published on October 14, 2025, in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. And according to astronomers, no one knows when they appeared, but it seems that these rings are still forming.

And certain hypotheses could explain their presence, even if further studies need to be conducted in the future. Indeed, some astronomers think that it is ice dust and rock dust, while others believe that it could be the result of a collision with another celestial object. Finally, this discovery could help astronomers better understand the formation of rings around Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus.