The asteroid discovered in 1858 and named after Greek mythology’s Pandora is 55 Pandora.
55 Pandora is a large main-belt asteroid discovered by the American astronomer George Mary Searle on September 10, 1858, at the Dudley Observatory in Albany, New York. It was the 55th asteroid to receive a permanent number, which explains the number placed before its name.
The name refers to Pandora, the figure from Greek mythology associated with the jar that released troubles into the world. Astronomical objects are frequently given names from mythology, literature, and history, but the name does not mean the asteroid has any physical connection to the myth.
55 Pandora is classified as an S-type asteroid, meaning its surface is broadly stony and silicate-rich. It travels in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It should not be confused with Pandora, one of Saturn’s small moons, which received the same mythological name independently.