Candidate Centaurs trapped in mean motion resonances with Uranus

National Astronomical Observatory, Japan, 2-21-1, Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan

Corresponding author: Y. Masaki, ymasaki@gsi.go.jp

Received: 10 September 2002
Accepted: 5 March 2003

Abstract

We investigated the dynamical evolution of Centaurs moving in the region of the giant planets. Perturbations from four major planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) were included. We have found that 2000QC₂₄₃ is trapped in a 5:4 mean motion resonance with Uranus and 2001XZ₂₅₅ is also locked in a 4:3 resonance. Both Centaurs are moving between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. They leave the resonances after a few hundred thousand years. Some other Centaurs (10199 Chariklo and 1994TA) also show the resonant character. Their orbital elements (except for Chariklo) are not well determined. However, the region between Saturn and Uranus may play the role of a temporary reservoir for Centaurs.