SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 K1

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 1 carries it from 3.073 AU at perihelion out to 93,715 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 3,655
Orbital Period · P
10,143,864 yr
v(q)
24 km/s
v(Q)
0 km/s
TJ
0.02
Eccentricity · e
0.9999

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.073 AU) and its farthest (93,715 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 93,712 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 10,143,864 yr (3,705,046,398 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 46,860 AU.

The high eccentricity (1) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 89.66° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 24 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 0.02, 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 3,655 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4337 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
46860.0 AU
Eccentricity
0.9999
Perihelion
3.073 AU
Aphelion
93715.314 AU
Inclination
89.66°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459791.5
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
0.43367
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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