2 Pallas
- proper noun
- Specialized
- Astronomers first observed 2 Pallas in 1802, shortly after the discovery of Ceres.
Examples
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The orbit of 2 Pallas is inclined compared to most main belt asteroids.
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With its irregular shape, 2 Pallas stands out among the largest asteroids.
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The astronomer studied 2 Pallas for its unique orbit.
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Did you know that 2 Pallas is one of the largest asteroids?
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Astronomers first observed 2 Pallas in 1802, shortly after the discovery of Ceres.
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The orbit of 2 Pallas is inclined compared to most main belt asteroids.
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With its irregular shape, 2 Pallas stands out among the largest asteroids.
Synonyms
A large asteroid in the main belt that was the second discovered
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase simply combines the numeral "2" (indicating order) with the proper name "Pallas" to yield the standardized astronomical designation for the second-discovered asteroid. This numeral+name compositional pattern is transparent and commonly used cross-linguistically in naming celestial bodies, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
2 Pallas shows two simple facts: the 2 means it was the 'second' asteroid discovered, and Pallas is the name of a Greek goddess used for the name. So 2 Pallas means the second large asteroid found, named after that goddess.