SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 S5

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.338 carries it from 2.679 AU at perihelion out to 5.417 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 74
Orbital Period · P
8.14 yr
v(q)
21.1 km/s
v(Q)
10.4 km/s
TJ
2.91
Eccentricity · e
0.3383

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.679 AU) and its farthest (5.417 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.738 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 8.14 yr (2,975 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 4.048 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.338 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 12.35° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 21.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 10.4 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.91, 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 74 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3783 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
4.048 AU
Eccentricity
0.3383
Perihelion
2.679 AU
Aphelion
5.417438 AU
Inclination
12.35°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459136.5
Mean Anomaly
8.07°

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
0.3783
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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