SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2015 A3

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.846 carries it from 1.153 AU at perihelion out to 13.811 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 57
Orbital Period · P
20.5 yr
v(q)
37.7 km/s
v(Q)
3.1 km/s
TJ
-0.57
Eccentricity · e
0.8459

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.153 AU) and its farthest (13.811 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 12.658 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 20.5 yr (7,475 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 7.482 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.846) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 172.5° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 37.7 km/s at perihelion and falls to 3.1 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.57, 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 57 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.2938 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 6 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
7.482 AU
Eccentricity
0.8459
Perihelion
1.153 AU
Aphelion
13.811024 AU
Inclination
172.51°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457067.5
Mean Anomaly
359.57°

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
0.29375
Condition
6
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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