SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2012 U1

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 1 carries it from 5.264 AU at perihelion out to 24,195 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 172
Orbital Period · P
1,331,000 yr
v(q)
18.4 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
1.51
Eccentricity · e
0.9996

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (5.264 AU) and its farthest (24,195 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 24,190 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 1,331,000 yr (486,147,750 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 12,100 AU.

The high eccentricity (1) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 56.34° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 18.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.51, 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 172 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4875 arcseconds.

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
12100.0 AU
Eccentricity
0.9996
Perihelion
5.264 AU
Aphelion
24195.16 AU
Inclination
56.34°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456657.5
Mean Anomaly
360.0°

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
0.4875
Condition
—
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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