1866 Sisyphus ( /ˈsɪsɨfəs/ SIS-i-fəs) is a binary Apollo asteroid which, at approximately 10 km in diameter, is the largest of the Earth-crossing asteroids. It is comparable in size to the Chicxulub object whose impact may have killed off the dinosaurs.
Sisyphus was discovered in 1972 by Paul Wild, and named after the Sisyphus of Greek mythology.
This Apollo asteroid will reach apparent magnitude of 10.0 on November 26, 2071 when it will be a mere 0.116 A.U. (17.4 million kilometers) from Earth (when it was discovered it peaked at magnitude 9.0 in November 25, 1972), being one of the brightest of its class.
Famous quotes containing the word sisyphus:
“The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to fill a man’s heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)