In astronomy, 2060 Chiron is an object discovered in 1977 by Charles Kowal.

In Greek mythology, Chiron ("hand") was a centaur who was unlike most centaurs in that he was kind, intelligent and civilized. He was a son of Cronus and Philyra.

He was probably a Thessalian god, later subsumed into the Greek pantheon as a centaur.

He lived on Mount Pilion or Pelion and tutored Asclepius, Theseus, Achilles, Jason and Heracles.

Heracles accidentally shot him with a poisonous arrow (see: Erymanthian Boar) and Chiron willingly gave up his immortality to escape the pain. He was placed in the sky as the constellation Sagittarius.

Chiron also saved the life of Peleus when Acastus tried to kill him by taking his sword and leaving him out in the woods to be slaughtered by the centaurs. Chiron retrieved his sword.

With the nymph Chariclo, Chiron was the father of Ocyrhoe.

In The Divine Comedy Chiron is the chief guardian of the seventh circle of Hell.

John Updike's novel The Centaur is an expansion and interpretation of the story of Chiron, set in the context of 20th century small-town America.

Alternative: Cheiron