2101 Adonis

2101 Adonis was one of the first near-Earth asteroids to be discovered. It was discovered by Eugene Delporte in 1936 and named after Adonis, the beautiful youth with whom the goddess Venus fell in love. 2101 Adonis is believed to measure approximately 1 km in diameter.

In the close approach that led to its initial discovery, not enough observations could be made to calculate an orbit, and Adonis was a lost asteroid until 1977 when it was rediscovered by Charles T. Kowal.

Adonis was the second Apollo asteroid to be discovered (after 1862 Apollo itself). It may be an extinct comet, and may be the source of some meteor showers.

Adonis makes close approaches to Venus, Earth, and Mars. It comes within 30 Gm of the Earth six times in the 21st century, the nearest being 5.3 Gm in 2036.