Which asteroid, discovered in 1858, was named after Pandora?

55 Pandora is the asteroid discovered in 1858 and named after Pandora.

The asteroid was discovered by George Mary Searle on September 10, 1858, at the Albany Observatory in New York. It became the 55th numbered minor planet, which explains the number placed before its name. Pandora is classified as an S-type asteroid, meaning its surface is broadly associated with stony silicate material.

Its name comes from the figure in Greek mythology. Astronomical naming often draws on classical mythology, especially for asteroids discovered during the nineteenth century. The name does not mean that the asteroid has any physical connection to the myth beyond the adopted designation.

Pandora's orbit lies in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. It is far smaller than the largest asteroids, and observations have helped astronomers estimate its rotation, shape, and surface characteristics over time.