SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2014 M4

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.596 carries it from 2.351 AU at perihelion out to 9.276 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 87
Orbital Period · P
14.0 yr
v(q)
24.5 km/s
v(Q)
6.2 km/s
TJ
2.59
Eccentricity · e
0.5955

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.351 AU) and its farthest (9.276 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 6.925 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 14.0 yr (5,120 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 5.814 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.596) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

Its inclination of 3.35° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 24.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 6.2 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.59, 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 87 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6956 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 4 indicates a moderately constrained orbit; predictions decades ahead still carry noticeable uncertainty.

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
5.814 AU
Eccentricity
0.5955
Perihelion
2.351 AU
Aphelion
9.276237 AU
Inclination
3.35°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456916.5
Mean Anomaly
352.79°

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
0.69557
Condition
4
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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