SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2023 V2

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.571 carries it from 3.104 AU at perihelion out to 11.354 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 319
Orbital Period · P
19.4 yr
v(q)
21.2 km/s
v(Q)
5.8 km/s
TJ
2.63
Eccentricity · e
0.5706

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.104 AU) and its farthest (11.354 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 8.25 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 19.4 yr (7,099 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 7.229 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.571) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

The orbital plane is tilted 9.89° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 21.2 km/s at perihelion and falls to 5.8 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.63, 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 319 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.4179 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
7.229 AU
Eccentricity
0.5706
Perihelion
3.104 AU
Aphelion
11.353867 AU
Inclination
9.89°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2460597.5
Mean Anomaly
12.84°

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
0.41789
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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