| 1. | Classical Mythology. a wise and beneficent centaur, teacher of Achilles, Asclepius, and others. |
| 2. | Astronomy. an asteroid located between Saturn and Uranus, about 100 mi. (160 km) in diameter: discovered in 1977. |
| Chiron (kī'rŏn') Pronunciation Key
A large cometlike body with an orbit mostly between Saturn and Uranus. Discovered in 1977, Chiron was originally identified as an asteroid, but it has since been reclassified as a Centaur. Like a comet, Chiron has been observed to display a nebulous coma in its closest approach to the Sun, but at approximately 200 km (124 mi) in diameter it is far larger than any other known comet. See more at Centaur. |