In astronomy, the asteroid Pandora discovered in 1858 is designated 55 Pandora.
55 Pandora is a large main-belt asteroid discovered by Hermann Goldschmidt from Paris in 1858. The number 55 records its position in the sequence of numbered minor planets, while Pandora is its name. It should not be confused with Saturn’s moon Pandora, which is a separate object discovered more than a century later.
The asteroid belongs to the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Astronomers classify it as an S-type asteroid, meaning its surface is broadly associated with stony, silicate-rich material. Its orbit and physical properties are studied through observations of brightness, motion, and interactions with sunlight.
The mythological name is part of a long tradition of naming asteroids after figures from Greek and Roman mythology. The number is essential in this question because “Pandora” alone can refer to multiple astronomical objects, including the asteroid, Saturn’s moon, and features in other planetary systems.