An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A unique → binary asteroid (90) which has two similar-sized components. The components, 91 and 86 km in diameter respectively, are separated by 171 km, and circle each other every 16.5 hours. Belonging to the main → asteroid belt, Antiope was discovered in 1866 by the German Robert Luther. Its binarity was discovered in 2000 by W. Merline and collaborators.

See also: Antiope, from Gk. mythology, but it is not clear whether Antiope the Amazon or Antiope the mother of Amphion and Zethus.