What type of Solar System object is 55 Pandora?

55 Pandora is an asteroid. It is a main-belt asteroid orbiting the Sun between the paths of Mars and Jupiter and was discovered in 1858 by George Mary Searle.

The number 55 is part of the object’s official designation and indicates its place in the sequence of numbered minor planets. It is separate from Pandora, the moon of Saturn, even though both objects are named after the same figure from Greek mythology.

Asteroids are rocky or metallic small bodies, while comets are generally known for volatile ices and developing comas near the Sun. 55 Pandora is therefore not a comet or a dwarf planet. Its mythological name connects astronomy with classical tradition.