SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2017 Y1

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.999 carries it from 3.719 AU at perihelion out to 7,578.2 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 92
Orbital Period · P
233,416 yr
v(q)
21.8 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
1.38
Eccentricity · e
0.999

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.719 AU) and its farthest (7,578.2 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 7,574.5 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 233,416 yr (85,255,205 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3,791.0 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 55.24° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 21.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.38, 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 92 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.525 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
3791.0 AU
Eccentricity
0.999
Perihelion
3.719 AU
Aphelion
7578.209 AU
Inclination
55.24°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458186.5
Mean Anomaly
0.0°

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
0.52496
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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