SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 483P-B

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.228 carries it from 2.448 AU at perihelion out to 3.896 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 67
Orbital Period · P
5.65 yr
v(q)
21.1 km/s
v(Q)
13.3 km/s
TJ
3.11
Eccentricity · e
0.2283

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (2.448 AU) and its farthest (3.896 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.448 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 5.65 yr (2,063 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 3.172 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.228 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 14.33° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 21.1 km/s at perihelion and falls to 13.3 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 3.11, 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 67 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.749 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
3.172 AU
Eccentricity
0.2283
Perihelion
2.448 AU
Aphelion
3.896168 AU
Inclination
14.33°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2457787.5
Mean Anomaly
39.01°

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
0.74898
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.

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