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 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

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

From 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.

From Seattle Times

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

From Science Daily