irene
n. countablen. a name given to a large rock in space that orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter. It is one of many objects in the asteroid belt.
n. a large main-belt asteroid discovered in 1851, named after the Greek personification of peace. When used in an astronomical context, it refers specifically to 14 Irene.
Astronomers use telescopes to track the path of Irene.
The asteroid Irene is notable for its composition of silicate rocks and nickel-iron, typical of many objects in the main belt.
Observations of Irene during its opposition provided researchers with valuable data regarding its rotational period and surface reflectivity, contributing to our broader understanding of asteroid classification.
Borrowed from French Irène, from Ancient Greek Εἰρήνη (Eirḗnē, “peace”), name of a goddess of peace, of early Christian saints, and of an 8th-century Byzantine empress. Doublet of Eirini.
Capitalised as a proper name; in scientific literature, it is often preceded by its discovery number as '14 Irene'.