Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Metis (moon)
| Discovery | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovered by | S. Synnott | ||||||
| Discovered in | 1979 | ||||||
| Orbital characteristics | |||||||
| Mean radius | 127,969 km | ||||||
| Eccentricity | 0.0012 | ||||||
| Revolution period | 7h 4.5m | ||||||
| Inclination | ~0° | ||||||
| Is a satellite of | Jupiter | ||||||
| Physical characteristics | |||||||
| Mean diameter | 43 km | ||||||
| Surface area | km2 | ||||||
| Mass | 9.5467×1016 kg | ||||||
| Mean density | 2.8 g/cm3 | ||||||
| Surface gravity | 0.0159 m/s2 | ||||||
| Surface Gravity (Earth = 1) | 0.00162 | ||||||
| Rotation period | 7h 4.5m | ||||||
| Axial tilt | ° | ||||||
| Albedo | 0.05 | ||||||
| Surface temp. |
| ||||||
| Atmospheric pressure | 0 kPa | ||||||
Metis (mee'-tis, Greek Μήτις) is the innermost member of the Amalthea group of Jupiter's small inner moons.
The moon was discovered in 1979 by the Voyager 1 probe and was designated S/1979 J 3. In 1983 it was officially named after the mythological Metis, a Titaness who was the first wife of Zeus and the mother of Athena. It is also designated Jupiter XVI.
Metis lies within Jupiter's main planetary ring, and may be the source of the material that comprises it. Its orbit lies inside Jupiter's synchronous orbit radius, and as a result, tidal forces are slowly causing its orbit to decay. It is also within Jupiter's Roche limit, but is small enough to avoid tidal disruption.
Not to be confused with the asteroid 9 Metis.
10-26-2009 08:16:03
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The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details