SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2022 D1

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.547 carries it from 3.353 AU at perihelion out to 11.449 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 97
Orbital Period · P
20.1 yr
v(q)
20.2 km/s
v(Q)
5.9 km/s
TJ
2.14
Eccentricity · e
0.547

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.353 AU) and its farthest (11.449 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 8.096 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 20.1 yr (7,354 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 7.401 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.547) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 44.06° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 20.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 5.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.14, 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 97 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4819 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
7.401 AU
Eccentricity
0.547
Perihelion
3.353 AU
Aphelion
11.449347 AU
Inclination
44.06°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459647.5
Mean Anomaly
9.44°

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
0.48192
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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