SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 482P

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.493 carries it from 1.907 AU at perihelion out to 5.616 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 97
Orbital Period · P
7.30 yr
v(q)
26.4 km/s
v(Q)
8.9 km/s
TJ
2.73
Eccentricity · e
0.4929

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (1.907 AU) and its farthest (5.616 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 3.709 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 7.30 yr (2,665 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.762 AU.

The high eccentricity (0.493) produces a strongly elongated orbit, so the object spends most of its time far from the Sun.

A steep inclination of 24.52° carries it well above and below the ecliptic plane.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 26.4 km/s at perihelion and falls to 8.9 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.73, 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 97 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.516 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 1 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
3.762 AU
Eccentricity
0.4929
Perihelion
1.907 AU
Aphelion
5.61629 AU
Inclination
24.52°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459655.5
Mean Anomaly
300.36°

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
0.51598
Condition
1
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.

Keep exploring

Explore asteroids, comets and near-Earth objects with JPL orbital data.