SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2015 K2

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.994 carries it from 1.455 AU at perihelion out to 522.3 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 54
Orbital Period · P
4,238 yr
v(q)
34.9 km/s
v(Q)
0.1 km/s
TJ
1.33
Eccentricity · e
0.9944

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.455 AU) and its farthest (522.3 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 520.9 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4,238 yr (1,548,080 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 261.9 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.994) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 29.11° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 34.9 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.1 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.33, 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 54 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3612 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
261.9 AU
Eccentricity
0.9944
Perihelion
1.455 AU
Aphelion
522.33336 AU
Inclination
29.11°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457168.5
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
0.36117
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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