The main-belt asteroid named after Pandora is officially designated 55 Pandora.
Astronomer George Mary Searle discovered 55 Pandora on September 10, 1858, from the Dudley Observatory in Albany, New York. The asteroid was named for Pandora, the figure from Greek mythology associated with the jar that released evils into the world.
55 Pandora is a relatively large main-belt asteroid with an S-type, stony composition. It orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, as do most known asteroids. Its designation combines its discovery number, 55, with its mythological name.
This object should not be confused with Pandora, a moon of Saturn, or with the fictional settings and characters called Pandora in modern films, novels, and games. Numbered asteroid designations identify minor planets in order of discovery after their orbits are sufficiently established.