P/2016 G1 (PanSTARRS) is a periodic comet that was discovered by the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan‑STARRS) on 3 April 2016. Its provisional designation follows the standard cometary naming convention: “P” indicates a periodic (short‑period) comet, “2016” is the year of discovery, the letter “G” denotes the first half of April, and “1” signifies that it was the first such comet reported in that interval. The discoverer credit is attributed to the Pan‑STARRS survey team.
The comet was subsequently reported to the Minor Planet Center (MPC), which assigned it the official designation P/2016 G1. Orbital elements for P/2016 G1 are maintained in the JPL Small‑Body Database and the MPC database; these include its orbital period, perihelion distance, eccentricity, inclination, and other parameters that define its elliptical orbit around the Sun. As a periodic comet, it belongs to the class of short‑period comets that complete an orbit in less than 200 years, typically originating from the Jupiter‑family population.
Observational data for P/2016 G1 have been collected during its apparitions since discovery, allowing astronomers to refine its orbit and monitor its activity. The comet’s nucleus, coma, and tail have been observed with ground‑based telescopes, though detailed physical characteristics (such as nucleus size, composition, or activity level) have not been extensively published in peer‑reviewed literature as of the latest available records.
References to P/2016 G1 (PanSTARRS) can be found in the following authoritative astronomical resources:
- Minor Planet Center (MPC) – official discovery and designation notices.
- JPL Small‑Body Database – up‑to‑date orbital elements and ephemerides.
No alternative names or historic designations are known for this object. Further observations and analyses may be published in future astronomical bulletins or journals.
