SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 M1

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.999 carries it from 2.21 AU at perihelion out to 4,759.9 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 3,553
Orbital Period · P
116,182 yr
v(q)
28.3 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
-0.03
Eccentricity · e
0.9991

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.21 AU) and its farthest (4,759.9 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 4,757.6 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 116,182 yr (42,435,499 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 2,381.0 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.999) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 90.99° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 28.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.03, 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 3,553 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5346 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
2381.0 AU
Eccentricity
0.9991
Perihelion
2.21 AU
Aphelion
4759.8571 AU
Inclination
90.99°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458143.5
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
0.53461
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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