Phaëthon

American  

[fey-uh-thuhn, -thon] / ˈfeɪ ə θən, -ˌθɒn /

noun

Classical Mythology.

1. a son of Helios who borrowed the chariot of the sun and drove it so close to earth that Zeus struck him down to save the world.

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Phaethon ¹ British  

/ ˈfeɪəθən /

noun

1. an asteroid (6.9 km in diameter) that has an orbit approaching close to the sun and releases fragments of dust that enter the earth's atmosphere as meteors

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Phaëthon ² British  

/ ˈfeɪəθən /

noun

1. Greek myth the son of Helios (the sun god) who borrowed his father's chariot and nearly set the earth on fire by approaching too close to it. Zeus averted the catastrophe by striking him down with a thunderbolt

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Etymology

Origin of Phaëthon

< Greek Phaéthōn, special use of present participle of phaéthein to shine

Example Sentences

The Geminids shower comes from the remnants of an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon.

From BBC

Until recently, scientists thought the Geminids were a result of dust escaping from 3200 Phaethon.

From BBC

But two years ago scientists revealed that Phaethon's tail is actually made of glowing sodium gas.

From BBC

The debris causing the Geminids, an annual event, originated from an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, according to NASA.

From Los Angeles Times

But the Geminids come from the sun-orbiting asteroid 3200 Phaethon.

From Seattle Times