Researchers led by Charles Schambeau, an associate professor at the University of Central Florida, reported that Centaur 450P/LONEOS is showing signs of transforming into a comet. ^[1] Researchers led by Charles Schambeau, a research associate professor at UCF's Florida Space Institute, detected carbon dioxide gas and icy dust surrounding the Centaur object 450P/LONEOS. ^[2] Observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and the Gemini North telescope detected carbon dioxide gas, icy dust, and signs of recent thermal activity surrounding 450P/LONEOS. ^[3] The altered orbit brought the perihelion of 450P/LONEOS closer to Jupiter, increasing solar heating and causing the gradual formation of a faint coma. ^[4] The research team found that a close gravitational encounter with Saturn in 1992 significantly altered the orbit of 450P/LONEOS, moving it inward from a more distant trajectory. ^[5] Charles Schambeau stated that Centaurs are transitional objects originating from the outer solar system that evolve toward becoming Jupiter-family comets. ^[6] The study found strong evidence of carbon dioxide emission but no signs of water vapor or carbon monoxide, suggesting carbon dioxide is likely driving the centaur's activity. ^[7]