SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2016 N6

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.999 carries it from 2.669 AU at perihelion out to 3,957.4 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 3,071
Orbital Period · P
88,104 yr
v(q)
25.8 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
-0.54
Eccentricity · e
0.9987

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.669 AU) and its farthest (3,957.4 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3,954.8 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 88,104 yr (32,180,146 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 1,980.0 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 105.8° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 25.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = -0.54, 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 3,071 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4215 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
1980.0 AU
Eccentricity
0.9987
Perihelion
2.669 AU
Aphelion
3957.426 AU
Inclination
105.83°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458150.5
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
0.42154
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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