(55) Pandora, courage needed to make a big step foward

(55) Pandora is a main belt asteroid discovered in September of 1858. It has a perihelion of 2.37 AU and an aphelion of 3.15 AU. The semimajor axis is at 2.76 AU (near the 8:3 mean motion resonance with Jupiter). It has a diameter of about 67 km. It has an inclination of 7.2º. There are important photometric observations in the years 1977 and 2010.

 
Greek mythology

Pandora was a by-product of the cyclical interaction between Prometheus and Zeus:

1. Prometheus convinced the human beings to stay with the best part of the ox offered in sacrifice to the gods, giving to these, the bones hidden behind a layer of fat.
2. Upon discovering the deception, Zeus punished humanity, taking away the fire.
3. But Prometheus stole it from the gods and gave it back to the humanity.
4. Then Zeus, in an act of supremacy, chained Prometheus to a rock in the Caucasus, where an eagle extracted his liver every day, after been regenerated during the night, due to his immortality.
5. In addition, Zeus ordered Hephaestus to create Pandora. All the gods honored her with gifts, giving her beauty, cunning, eloquence, manual dexterity and curiosity. Zeus sent her, by means of Hermes, to Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus, in whose house was a box containing all the misfortunes that could affect humanity. Prometheus, had already warned Epimetheus to do not accept gifts from Zeus, but after seeing Pandora he could not resist. Finally, in spite of so much that he had been forbidden by Epimetheus, Pandora opened the box as Zeus had planned, and all the misfortunes were scattered throughout the world. However, the box also contained hope, which would help mankind to overcome all these evils.

 

"While this story has been interpreted a number of diferent ways, the interpretation that best fit the minor planet is to view the problems that were released as unforeseen challenges, and to view the hope as the better life one will have if one conquers those challenges." (Zane B. Stein)


To go out to face it

The drive and initiative of the cardinal cross is combined with the action of the fire element to give a great step forward and make decisive actions to achieve personal goals. The strength of the core of the I is necessary to be able to remain firm in the purpose and go ahead with the action taken, ready to confront everything that could get in the way.

In the movie "Tangled" (2010), the young Rapunzel lives with her mother at the top of a tower, hidden in the forest. Her mother makes her believe that the outside world is riddled with dangers and ban her to leave the tower.

Rapunzel feels an immense curiosity by the floating lights that appear on the horizon, every year the day of her birthday. That intrigue is increasing until, at the age of 18 years old, she has enough courage to asks her mother to take her to see the floating lights. But her mother dissuade her in all possible ways.

One day, while her mother is on a trip, the young Flyn, escaping from the guards of the palace, after having stolen the royal haversack, hide in the tower of Rapunzel, but she captures him and hides the haversack. Finally she reaches an agreement with him to be guide to the city, in time to see the floating lanterns.

"Tangled" (2010)

Once (55) Pandora has taken the step forward, is faced with a new and unknown situation, in which it is easy to make mistakes due to the inexperience. However, the risk is worthwhile, as it leads to self-realization and a greater integration in the society.

"Star Wars - Episode VI - A New Hope" (1977)