Hyperbolic comet

C/2017 K2 (PANSTARRS)

A dynamically new, near-parabolic long-period comet discovered by Pan-STARRS in 2017 and notable for showing activity at a record distance — a coma was detected beyond Saturn's orbit, on the comet's first passage in from the Oort cloud. Its near-parabolic orbit marks it as a distant Solar-System visitor, not an interstellar object.

Hyperbolic (Solar-System origin)Near-parabolic (e ≈ 1) — a dynamically new comet

Physical & orbital character

Origin:A dynamically new comet from the Oort cloud — not interstellar

Activity:Active at record distance — a coma was seen beyond Saturn's orbit

How it was identified

Trajectory class:Near-Parabolic Orbit

Detected by survey:Pan-STARRS

Catalogued by:Minor Planet Center

Related comet class:Long-Period Comets

Knowledge connections

Trajectory classNear-Parabolic Orbit
Surveyed byPan-STARRS
Catalogued inMinor Planet Center
Associated withLong-Period Comets

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

Minor Planet CenterIAU Minor Planet Center
Designations and orbits of asteroids, comets, and minor bodies.
NASA JPLJet Propulsion Laboratory / Solar System Dynamics
Orbital data, ephemerides, and small-body parameters for planets, asteroids, and comets.
NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.