SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 FL36

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.032 carries it from 2.835 AU at perihelion out to 3.023 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 27
Orbital Period · P
5.01 yr
v(q)
18 km/s
v(Q)
16.9 km/s
TJ
3.22
Eccentricity · e
0.032

Orbit and dynamics

The path is an ellipse reaching 2.835 AU from the Sun at perihelion and 3.023 AU at aphelion, a radial span of 0.188 AU.

Applying Kepler's third law to a = 2.929 AU gives an orbital period of 5.01 yr, or about 1,831 days.

With e = 0.032, the orbit is close to circular.

The orbital plane is tilted 15.7° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 18 km/s at perihelion and falls to 16.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 3.22, 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

The current orbit solution is based on 27 observations and has a weighted RMS residual of 0.3879 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 5 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
2.929 AU
Eccentricity
0.032
Perihelion
2.835 AU
Aphelion
3.022728 AU
Inclination
15.7°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457828.5
Mean Anomaly
122.13°

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
0.38788
Condition
5
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.