SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 426P

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.161 carries it from 2.674 AU at perihelion out to 3.699 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 123
Orbital Period · P
5.69 yr
v(q)
19.6 km/s
v(Q)
14.2 km/s
TJ
3.1
Eccentricity · e
0.1608

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.674 AU) and its farthest (3.699 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.025 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 5.69 yr (2,078 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.187 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.161 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 17.77° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 19.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 14.2 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

Astrometry from 123 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.3892 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 0 means the orbit is very well determined, leaving only a small uncertainty in the future ephemeris.

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
3.187 AU
Eccentricity
0.1608
Perihelion
2.674 AU
Aphelion
3.69947 AU
Inclination
17.77°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458779.5
Mean Anomaly
113.21°

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
0.38924
Condition
0
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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