364P/PANSTARRS

Key Facts

• Categorized as a Jupiter-family Comet
• Will pass within 18,059,681 km of Earth in 2023
• Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
• Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
• See orbit simulation

Overview

Comet 364P/PANSTARRS is an object whose orbit features a relatively short period, low inclination, and is controlled by Jupiter's gravitational effects. NASA JPL has classified 364P/PANSTARRS as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.

364P/PANSTARRS orbits the sun every 1,780 days (4.87 years), coming as close as 0.80 AU and reaching as far as 4.96 AU from the sun. Its orbit is highly elliptical.

Close Approaches

364P/PANSTARRS's orbit is 0.09 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.

364P/PANSTARRS has 7 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:

Images and Observations

364P/PANSTARRS's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Feb. 1, 2013. It was last officially observed on July 31, 2023. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 1,380 observations used to determine its orbit.

Accessibility and Exploration

This comet is not considered a viable target for human exploration by the NHATS study.

Similar Objects

These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 364P/PANSTARRS:

• 33 Polyhymnia (A854 UB)
• 47 Aglaja (A857 RA)
• 158 Koronis (A876 AA)

References

• JPL Small Body Database
• Mission Design
• Sky Finder Chart

Orbit Simulation

Sky Map

The position of 364P/PANSTARRS is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.