SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 A3

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.38 carries it from 4.79 AU at perihelion out to 10.665 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 198
Orbital Period · P
21.5 yr
v(q)
16 km/s
v(Q)
7.2 km/s
TJ
2.9
Eccentricity · e
0.3802

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (4.79 AU) and its farthest (10.665 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 5.875 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 21.5 yr (7,845 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 7.727 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.38 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 8.59° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 16 km/s at perihelion and falls to 7.2 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.9, 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 198 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5873 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 3 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
7.727 AU
Eccentricity
0.3802
Perihelion
4.79 AU
Aphelion
10.664805 AU
Inclination
8.59°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457890.5
Mean Anomaly
1.53°

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
0.58731
Condition
3
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.

Keep exploring

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.