SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 491P

Spacewatch-PANSTARRS

Spacewatch-PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.259 carries it from 3.715 AU at perihelion out to 6.311 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 733
Orbital Period · P
11.2 yr
v(q)
17.3 km/s
v(Q)
10.2 km/s
TJ
2.91
Eccentricity · e
0.2589

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (3.715 AU) and its farthest (6.311 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 2.596 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 11.2 yr (4,100 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 5.013 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.259 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 9.37° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 17.3 km/s at perihelion and falls to 10.2 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.91, a standard discriminator between asteroidal and cometary dynamics.

Size and surface

Neither a measured diameter nor a reliable absolute magnitude is available for Spacewatch-PANSTARRS, so its physical size remains unconstrained.

Observation record and orbit quality

Astrometry from 733 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5943 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
5.013 AU
Eccentricity
0.2589
Perihelion
3.715 AU
Aphelion
6.310866 AU
Inclination
9.37°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2459979.5
Mean Anomaly
308.98°

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
0.59429
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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