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Jupiter-family comets (JFCs) are the evolutionary products of trans-Neptunianobjects (TNOs) that evolve through the giant planet region as Centaurs and intothe inner solar system. Through numerical orbital evolution calculationsfollowing a large number of TNO test particles that enter the Centaurpopulation, we have identified a short-lived dynamical Gateway, a temporarylow-eccentricity region exterior to Jupiter through which the majority of JFCspass. We apply an observationally based size distribution function to the knownCentaur population and obtain an estimated Gateway region population. We thenapply an empirical fading law to the rate of incoming JFCs implied by the theGateway region residence times. Our derived estimates are consistent withobserved population numbers for the JFC and Gateway populations. Currently, themost notable occupant of the Gateway region is 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1(SW1), a highly active, regularly outbursting Centaur. SW1's present-day,very-low-eccentricity orbit was established after a 1975 Jupiter conjunctionand will persist until a 2038 Jupiter conjunction doubles its eccentricity andpushes its semi-major axis out to its current aphelion. Subsequent evolutionwill likely drive SW1's orbit out of the Gateway region, perhaps becoming oneof the largest JFCs in recorded history. The JFC Gateway region coincides witha heliocentric distance range where the activity of observed cometary bodiesincreases significantly. SW1's activity may be typical of the earlyevolutionary processing experienced by most JFCs. Thus, the Gateway region, andits most notable occupant SW1, are critical to both the dynamical and physicaltransition between Centaurs and JFCs.

29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, A Centaur in the Gateway to the Jupiter-Family Comets