Discovered 1871 Mar. 12 by R. Luther at Düsseldorf.

Named for the daughter of King Melissus of Crete, who nourished Zeus {see planet (5731)} with the milk of a goat. (H 15)

Named (AN 77, 217 (1871)) by the Berlin astronomers by a vote of 5 to 3.

The name Amalthea has also been given to the fifth satellite of Jupiter, discovered 1892 by E. Barnard.