SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2014 QU2

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.991 carries it from 2.223 AU at perihelion out to 510.4 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 67
Orbital Period · P
4,103 yr
v(q)
28.2 km/s
v(Q)
0.1 km/s
TJ
-1.03
Eccentricity · e
0.9913

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.223 AU) and its farthest (510.4 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 508.1 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4,103 yr (1,498,695 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 256.3 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.991) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 124.8° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 28.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.1 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -1.03, 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 67 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.2712 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
256.3 AU
Eccentricity
0.9913
Perihelion
2.223 AU
Aphelion
510.37019 AU
Inclination
124.82°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2456904.5
Mean Anomaly
0.01°

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
0.27123
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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