"Centaurs' Transformation: Jupiter and Saturn's Influence"

Centaurs, small bodies in the outer solar system, can exhibit comet-like activity due to rapid orbital reshaping caused by close encounters with Jupiter or Saturn, leading to a decrease in their semi-major axis and a shift to more circular and lower perihelion orbits. This change allows their surfaces to warm up, causing ices in their interior to sublimate and turn them into comets. The study suggests that every Centaur has the potential to become active, and the findings could help identify objects that are currently active or may become active soon.