Phaëthon

[fey-uh-thuhn, -thon]

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.

Phaethon

¹

/ 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

Phaëthon

²

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Phaëthon¹

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

Example Sentences

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

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on Seattle Times

Meteor showers are typically caused by a comet, but the Geminids are celestial debris left behind by a rocky asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon.

Read more on BBC

Most meteor showers result from fragments shed by comets, but an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon is responsible for the gems of the Geminids.

Read more on Seattle Times

Analysis of Phaethon's infrared spectrum showed that the asteroid was composed of at least olivine, carbonates, iron sulfides, and oxide minerals.

Read more on Science Daily