SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2020 V3

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.255 carries it from 6.23 AU at perihelion out to 10.493 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 130
Orbital Period · P
24.2 yr
v(q)
13.4 km/s
v(Q)
7.9 km/s
TJ
2.88
Eccentricity · e
0.2549

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (6.23 AU) and its farthest (10.493 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 4.263 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 24.2 yr (8,832 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 8.362 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.255 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

A steep inclination of 23.03° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 13.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 7.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.88, 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 130 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4176 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 3 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
8.362 AU
Eccentricity
0.2549
Perihelion
6.23 AU
Aphelion
10.493474 AU
Inclination
23.03°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459263.5
Mean Anomaly
0.42°

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
0.4176
Condition
3
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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