Virgo discovery

Minor planets discovered in Virgo.

Mercury and Jupiter in the House of Philemon and Baucis (1650) by Jacob van Oost. Here Baukis is chasing the household goose to provide a special meal for her visitors; Hermes, seated to the left, reaches out to forestall her as Zeus sits thoughtfully beside him.
Asteroids, Focus On, Main belt objects, Virgo discovery

Focus On: (172) Baucis

Baukis and Philemon were a poor elderly couple who were blessed by Zeus and Hermes after showing them hospitality while disguised as peasants. Richer folk in the town had turned the gods away. In consequence, Zeus flooded the rest of the town and turned the simple cottage into an ornate temple.

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Detail of Apollo and Daphne, a life-sized marble sculpture made between 1622 and 1625 by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680), depicting the initial stage of Daphne's transformation into a laurel tree.
Asteroids, Focus On, Main belt objects, Virgo discovery

Focus On: (41) Daphne

Name origin: Greek Naiad who was transformed into a laurel tree. Daphne was loved by the god Apollo, who pursued her until she grew exhausted and cried out to Gaia for help. The goddess transformed her into a laurel tree which Apollo then adopted as his sacred plant.

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Detail of Themis with scales: sculpture at Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan.
Asteroids, Focus On, Main belt objects, Outer main belt objects, Themistian family, Virgo discovery

Focus On: (24) Themis

Name origin: Greek Titan goddess of divine law and order. Themis presides specifically over the traditional rules of conduct first established by the gods. She was also a prophetic goddess who presided over the most ancient oracles, including Delphi.

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