SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2023 X3

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.287 carries it from 3.03 AU at perihelion out to 5.471 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 56
Orbital Period · P
8.76 yr
v(q)
19.4 km/s
v(Q)
10.8 km/s
TJ
2.95
Eccentricity · e
0.2871

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.03 AU) and its farthest (5.471 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.441 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 8.76 yr (3,201 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 4.251 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.287 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

Its inclination of 4.48° keeps it close to the plane of the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 19.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 10.8 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.95, 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 56 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3289 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 5 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
4.251 AU
Eccentricity
0.2871
Perihelion
3.03 AU
Aphelion
5.471462 AU
Inclination
4.48°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2460279.5
Mean Anomaly
343.95°

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
0.32894
Condition
5
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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