SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 O3

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.106 carries it from 4.167 AU at perihelion out to 5.157 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 71
Orbital Period · P
10.1 yr
v(q)
15.3 km/s
v(Q)
12.4 km/s
TJ
2.98
Eccentricity · e
0.1061

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (4.167 AU) and its farthest (5.157 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 0.99 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 10.1 yr (3,677 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 4.662 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.106 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 8.44° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 15.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12.4 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.98, 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 71 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3154 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
4.662 AU
Eccentricity
0.1061
Perihelion
4.167 AU
Aphelion
5.156638 AU
Inclination
8.44°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459080.5
Mean Anomaly
344.15°

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
0.31537
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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