55 Pandora is the asteroid named after the figure in Greek mythology.
Asteroid 55 Pandora was discovered by George Mary Searle on September 10, 1858, at the Dudley Observatory in Albany, New York. It is a main-belt asteroid, meaning it orbits the Sun in the broad region between Mars and Jupiter where many asteroids are found.
The asteroid received the name Pandora in the tradition of assigning mythological names to minor planets. Its designation combines the number assigned in the sequence of discovery with the mythological name: 55 Pandora.
It should not be confused with 50 Virginia, 52 Europa, or other asteroids named for mythological or literary figures. The number is essential because “Pandora” can refer to the asteroid, the mythological woman, a moon of Saturn, or works of art and film. The most specific astronomical answer is therefore 55 Pandora.