(60) Echo, reinforcing the conversation through feedback

(60) Echo is a main belt asteroid (inner zone II) discovered in September of 1860. It was spotted without being identified in March of 1899.

It has a perihelion of 1.95 AU and an aphelion of 2.83 AU. The semimajor axis is at 2.39 AU. It has an orbital period of 3 years and 256 days. It has an inclination of 3.6º. It has a diameter of about 60 km.

 

Stellar occultations occurred in December 2005, September 2018, and January 2020.

 

It has the following orbital resonances:

 

Semi-major axis: 

• 16:5 with Jupiter (99.9) 
• 1:6 with Venus (99.7) 
• 5:4 with Pallas (99.8)
• 13:9 with Interamnia (%100.0)
• 12:7 with Cybele (99.9)
• 5:4 with Herculina (99.8)

 

Perihelion:

• 11:16 with Marte (99.9)
• 8:5 with Juno (99.8)
• 2:1 with Europa (99.7)
• 3:2 with Amphitrite (99.7)

Aphelion:

• 4:3 with Cybele (%100.0)
• 6:7 with Amphitrite (99.9)
• 8:7 with Europa (99.9)
  

 

Greek mythology

 

Echo was a nymph who entertained Hera through long conversations, in order to facilitate Zeus's sexual encounters with other nymphs.

 

When Hera realized what was happening, she punished Echo by making her unable to speak; she only could repeat the last word of each other's sentence.

 

She became interested in Narcissus, a young man who lived in love with himself, after having observed her own reflection on a lake.

 

The asteroid Echo is related with the ability to reinforce conversation through words, sounds or gestures, which express emotions of approval, surprise, etc ... indicating that one is active listening (Aha... Aha...). Which can generate security, disinhibition or good humor in the other person, depending on the case, and significantly modify the rhythm of the conversation.

 

In certain cases, such as children or foreigners who are not fluent enough with the language, the asteroid Echo also allows to correct or rectify the communication of the other person.

 

Interview with Gwyneth Paltrow (Javier Poza) [in Spanish] 

 

John Cho, actor of the movie "Searching" (2018), has Echo in Gemini (8th Moon-Node House), in conjunction with Saturn.