SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2014 W9

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.858 carries it from 1.587 AU at perihelion out to 20.752 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 120
Orbital Period · P
37.3 yr
v(q)
32.2 km/s
v(Q)
2.5 km/s
TJ
1.95
Eccentricity · e
0.8578

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.587 AU) and its farthest (20.752 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 19.165 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 37.3 yr (13,635 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 11.17 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.858) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 10.63° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 32.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 2.5 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.95, 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 120 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5812 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
11.17 AU
Eccentricity
0.8578
Perihelion
1.587 AU
Aphelion
20.751626 AU
Inclination
10.63°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457051.5
Mean Anomaly
359.53°

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
0.58117
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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