Metis (moon)

S. Synnott

Metis ( Jupiter XVI) is the innermost known moon of the planet Jupiter.

Discovery

The moon was discovered by astronomer Stephen Synnott in images of the Voyager 1 spacecraft in 1979 and initially was given the provisional designation S/1979 J 3 1983, he was officially after the Titan Metis in Greek mythology, was the first wife of Zeus, named.

Path data

Metis moves within Jupiter's ring system and is believed to be a source for the ring particles. Metis orbits Jupiter within the geostationary orbital radius and is exposed to the strong tidal forces of the giant planets. The moon is small enough not to be torn apart by the forces, but its orbit will decrease in the future, so that it - will fall sometime in the Jupiter - as well as the next outer moon Adrasteia.

Metis is located within the Roche limit for liquid moons, that is, it is stable only by the cohesion of its material. The escape velocity is only valid for a movement at right angles to the gas planet.

Structure and physical data

Metis density of 2.8 g / cm ³ can on the one hand suggests that it is composed of equal parts of water ice and silicate rock. On the other hand, the very dark surface argues against the presence of ice.