.png) Light curve–based 3D model of Pandora | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | George Mary Searle |
| Discovery site | Albany, New York |
| Discovery date | September 10, 1858 |
| Designations | |
| (55) Pandora | |
| Pronunciation | /pænˈdɔːrə/[1] |
Named after | Pandora |
| Main belt | |
| Adjectives | Pandorian/pænˈdɔːriən/[2] |
| Symbol | .svg) (astrological) |
| Orbital characteristics[3] | |
| Epoch May 5, 2025 | |
| Aphelion | 3.158 AU (472.4 Gm) |
| Perihelion | 2.358 AU (352.8 Gm) |
| 2.758 AU (412.6 Gm) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.145 |
| 4.58yr (1,673 d) | |
| 114.416° | |
| Inclination | 7.176° |
| 10.287° | |
| 4.996° | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 84.8±2.5 km[3] |
| Mass | 3.1×1017 kg[citation needed] |
| 4.804 h[3] | |
| 0.204[3] | |
| Tholen =M[3][4] SMASS =X[3] | |
| 7.84[3] | |
55 Pandora is a fairly large and relatively brightasteroid in theasteroid belt. Pandora was discovered by American astronomer and Catholic priestGeorge Mary Searle on September 10, 1858, from theDudley Observatory nearAlbany, New York.[5] It was his only asteroid discovery.
It is named afterPandora, the first woman inGreek mythology, who unwisely opened a box that released evil into the world. The name was apparently chosen by Blandina Dudley, widow of the founder of theDudley Observatory, who had been involved in an acrimonious dispute with the director of the observatory, astronomerB. A. Gould.[dubious –discuss] Gould felt that the name had an "apt significance".[6] The asteroid shares its name withPandora, amoon of Saturn.
This object is orbiting theSun with aperiod of 4.58 years, asemi-major axis of2.76 AU, and aneccentricity of 0.15. Itsorbital plane lies at an angle of 7.2° to theplane of the ecliptic.Photometric observations of this asteroid at theRozhen Observatory inBulgaria during 2010 gave alight curve with a period of 4.7992 hours and a brightness variation ofΔm=0.22mag. This is consistent with a period of 4.804 hours and an amplitude of 0.24 obtained during a 1977 study.[7] It has a cross-sectional size of 84.8 kilometers (52.7 mi).[3]
