SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 G1

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.21 carries it from 2.04 AU at perihelion out to 3.126 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 147
Orbital Period · P
4.15 yr
v(q)
22.9 km/s
v(Q)
15 km/s
TJ
3.37
Eccentricity · e
0.2101

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.04 AU) and its farthest (3.126 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.086 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 4.15 yr (1,516 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2.583 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.21 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 10.97° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 22.9 km/s at perihelion and falls to 15 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 3.37, 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 147 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.6682 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
2.583 AU
Eccentricity
0.2101
Perihelion
2.04 AU
Aphelion
3.125688 AU
Inclination
10.97°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457508.5
Mean Anomaly
295.62°

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
0.66821
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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