SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2023 M2

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.369 carries it from 3.508 AU at perihelion out to 7.617 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 117
Orbital Period · P
13.1 yr
v(q)
18.6 km/s
v(Q)
8.6 km/s
TJ
2.74
Eccentricity · e
0.3693

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.508 AU) and its farthest (7.617 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 4.109 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 13.1 yr (4,792 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 5.563 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.369 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 19.73° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 18.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.6 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.74, 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 117 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5078 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
5.563 AU
Eccentricity
0.3693
Perihelion
3.508 AU
Aphelion
7.617416 AU
Inclination
19.73°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2460188.5
Mean Anomaly
2.83°

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
0.50782
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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