SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2012 B1

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.41 carries it from 3.825 AU at perihelion out to 9.153 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 1,189
Orbital Period · P
16.5 yr
v(q)
18.1 km/s
v(Q)
7.6 km/s
TJ
2.82
Eccentricity · e
0.4105

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.825 AU) and its farthest (9.153 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 5.328 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 16.5 yr (6,037 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 6.489 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.41) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 7.63° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 18.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 7.6 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.82, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for PANSTARRS, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 1,189 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5289 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

About these computed values

Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

Orbital Parameters

Semi-Major Axis
6.489 AU
Eccentricity
0.4105
Perihelion
3.825 AU
Aphelion
9.152734 AU
Inclination
7.63°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456328.5
Mean Anomaly
349.97°

Orbit diagram

The Sun sits at the focus (orange). Earth's orbit is the grey circle at 1 AU. The red dot marks the object's position at the catalog epoch.

3D orbit (interactive)

Drag to rotate; scroll or pinch to zoom. The Sun is at the focus (orange), Earth's orbit is the grey ring at 1 AU, and the red dot marks the object's current position.

Close approaches

No close approaches to Earth are currently on record for this object.

Physical Parameters

Diameter
— km
Albedo
—
Density
— g/cm³
Rotation Period
— h
Absolute Magnitude
—

Orbit Quality

RMS
0.52888
Condition
0
Orbit ID
—
Data source: NASA JPL Small-Body Database . Orbital periods, perihelion and aphelion speeds, and diameter estimates on this page are computed by SpaceAtlas from the JPL SBDB orbital elements. They are derived quantities, not values copied from the source catalogue.

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