56 Melete ( /ˈmɛlɨtiː/ MEL-i-tee) is a large and dark main belt asteroid. It is a rather unusual P-type asteroid, probably composed of organic rich silicates, carbon and anhydrous silicates, with possible internal water ice.
Melete was discovered by Hermann Goldschmidt from his balcony in Paris, on September 9, 1857. It orbit was computed by E. Schubert, who named it after Melete, the Muse of meditation in Greek mythology.
To date, two stellar occultations by Melete have been observed successfully (in 1997 and again in 2002).
Melete has been studied by radar.