Theories of Origin
The study of centaur development is rich in recent developments but still hampered by limited physical data. Different models have been put forward for possible origin of centaurs.
Simulations indicate that the orbit of some Kuiper-belt objects can be perturbed, resulting in the object's expulsion so that it becomes a centaur. Scattered disk objects would be dynamically the best candidates for such expulsions, but their colours do not fit the bicoloured nature of the centaurs. Plutinos are a class of Kuiper-belt object that display a similar bicoloured nature, and there are suggestions that not all plutinos' orbits are as stable as initially thought, due to perturbation by Pluto. Further developments are expected with more physical data on KBOs.
Read more about this topic: Centaur (minor Planet)
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