SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 2024 R2

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.268 carries it from 2.304 AU at perihelion out to 3.992 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 46
Orbital Period · P
5.59 yr
v(q)
22.1 km/s
v(Q)
12.8 km/s
TJ
3.1
Eccentricity · e
0.2682

Orbit and dynamics

The path is an ellipse reaching 2.304 AU from the Sun at perihelion and 3.992 AU at aphelion, a radial span of 1.688 AU.

Applying Kepler's third law to a = 3.148 AU gives an orbital period of 5.59 yr, or about 2,040 days.

An eccentricity of 0.268 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 15.12° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 22.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 12.8 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 3.1, 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

The current orbit solution is based on 46 observations and has a weighted RMS residual of 0.5882 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
3.148 AU
Eccentricity
0.2682
Perihelion
2.304 AU
Aphelion
3.992294 AU
Inclination
15.12°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2460565.5
Mean Anomaly
356.48°

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
0.58818
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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