SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2021 B2

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.993 carries it from 2.513 AU at perihelion out to 669.9 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 93
Orbital Period · P
6,164 yr
v(q)
26.5 km/s
v(Q)
0.1 km/s
TJ
1.56
Eccentricity · e
0.9925

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.513 AU) and its farthest (669.9 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 667.4 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 6,164 yr (2,251,577 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 336.2 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.993) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 38.09° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 26.5 km/s at perihelion and falls to 0.1 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 1.56, 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 0.4571 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
336.2 AU
Eccentricity
0.9925
Perihelion
2.513 AU
Aphelion
669.8785 AU
Inclination
38.09°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459307.5
Mean Anomaly
359.99°

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
0.4571
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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