SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2018 P5

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.641 carries it from 4.576 AU at perihelion out to 20.905 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 93
Orbital Period · P
45.5 yr
v(q)
17.8 km/s
v(Q)
3.9 km/s
TJ
2.79
Eccentricity · e
0.6409

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (4.576 AU) and its farthest (20.905 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 16.329 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 45.5 yr (16,609 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 12.74 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.641) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 7.26° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 17.8 km/s at perihelion and falls to 3.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.79, 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 93 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4088 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
12.74 AU
Eccentricity
0.6409
Perihelion
4.576 AU
Aphelion
20.905066 AU
Inclination
7.26°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458531.5
Mean Anomaly
359.8°

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
0.40883
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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