SpaceAtlas Space Object Data
NASA JPL SBDB · 512P

PANSTARRS

PANSTARRS follows a distinctly cometary orbit: an eccentricity of 0.156 carries it from 4.83 AU at perihelion out to 6.614 AU at aphelion.

comet Observations: 125
Orbital Period · P
13.7 yr
v(q)
14.6 km/s
v(Q)
10.6 km/s
TJ
2.93
Eccentricity · e
0.1559

Orbit and dynamics

Between its closest point (4.83 AU) and its farthest (6.614 AU), the heliocentric distance changes by 1.784 AU over every revolution.

One full revolution takes 13.7 yr (4,999 days), computed from the semi-major axis of 5.722 AU.

An eccentricity of 0.156 makes the orbit moderately elongated.

The orbital plane is tilted 12.55° relative to the ecliptic.

By the vis-viva equation its orbital speed rises to 14.6 km/s at perihelion and falls to 10.6 km/s at aphelion.

Its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter is T_J = 2.93, 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 125 individual observations underpins this orbit; the fit leaves an RMS residual of 0.5863 arcseconds.

Condition code U = 2 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
5.722 AU
Eccentricity
0.1559
Perihelion
4.83 AU
Aphelion
6.61406 AU
Inclination
12.55°
Orbital Period
— yr
Epoch
2458992.5
Mean Anomaly
188.56°

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
0.5863
Condition
2
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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