Near-Earth objects

Minor planets orbiting relatively near to the Earth.

Mosaic of Orpheus taming wild animals, 194 CE; found near Edessa, Turkey.
Apollo group, Focus On, Near-Earth objects, Sagittarius discovery

Focus On: (3361) Orpheus

Gifted Thracian bard in Greek legend. The best-known story involves Orpheus venturing into the underworld to try to bring back his wife Eurydike after she died from a snake bite. He lost her again just as they were returning to the upper world, after failing to keep a prohibition on looking back at her on the journey.

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The Doric Temple of Hephaestus, at the Agora of Athens, Greece.
Apollo group, Aries discovery, Asteroids, Focus On, Near-Earth objects

Focus On: (2212) Hephaistos

Name origin: Greek god of blacksmiths, metalworking, carpenters, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metallurgy, fire, and volcanoes. He became renowned for his skill at craftsmanship; several of his myths involve his works for gods and mortals.

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Daedalus, Icarus, Queen Pasiphaë, and two of her attendants in a Roman mosaic from Zeugma, Commagene.
Apollo group, Asteroids, Focus On, Near-Earth objects, Sagittarius discovery

Focus On: (1566) Icarus

Name origin: Cretan mortal, son of the great craftsman Daedalus, who made wings held together with beeswax to help the two of them escape the island. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun, nor too close to the sea. Overcome by giddiness while flying, Icarus disobeyed his father and came too close to the sun, and the heat melted the beeswax. He fell into the sea and drowned.

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