Discover

:For the moon of Jupiter, see Metis (moon).''
'9 Metis' (IPA: ) is one of the largest main belt asteroids. It is composed of silicates and metallic nickel-iron, and may be the core remnant of a large asteroid that was destroyed by an ancient collision.^[8]

Contents

Discovery and naming

Characteristics

Family relationships

Occultations

References

External links

Discovery and naming

Metis was discovered by Andrew Graham on April 25, 1848; it was his only asteroid discovery.^[9] It is also the only asteroid to have been discovered as a result of observations from Ireland. Its name comes from the mythological Metis, a Titaness and Oceanid, daughter of Tethys and Oceanus.^[10] The name ''Thetis'' was also considered and rejected (it would later devolve to 17 Thetis).

Characteristics

Metis' direction of rotation is unknown at present, due to ambiguous data. Lightcurve analysis indicates that Metis' pole points towards either ecliptic coordinates (β, λ) = (23°, 181°) or (9°, 359°) with a 10° uncertainty. The equivalent equatorial coordinates are (α, δ) = (12.7 h, 21°) or (23.7 h, 8°). This gives an axial tilt of 72° or 76°, respectively.
Hubble space telescope images^[11] and lightcurve analyses are in agreement that Metis has an irregular elongated shape with one pointed and one broad end. Radar observations suggest the presence of a significant flat area,^[12] in agreement with the shape model from lightcurves.
The surface composition has been estimated as 30-40% metal-bearing olivine and 60-70% Ni-Fe metal.
Light curve data on Metis led to an assumption that it could have a satellite. However, subsequent observations failed to confirm this.^[13][14] Later searches with the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993 found no satellites.

Family relationships

Metis was once considered to be a member of an asteroid family known as the Metis family,^[15] but more recent searches for prominent families did not recognize any such group, nor is a clump evident in the vicinity of Metis by visual inspection of proper orbital element diagrams.
However, a spectroscopic analysis found strong spectral similarities between Metis and 113 Amalthea, and it is suggested that these asteroids may be remnants of a very old (at least ~1 Ga) dynamical family whose smaller members have been pulverised by collisions or perturbed away from the vicinity. The putative parent body is estimated to have been 300 to 600 km in diameter (Vesta-sized) and differentiated. Metis would be the relatively intact core remnant, and Amalthea a fragment of the mantle. Coincidentally, both Metis and Amalthea have namesakes among Jupiter's inner moons.

Occultations

Metis has been observed to occult stars no less than 5 times.^[16]

References

1. J. Torppa et al., ''Shapes and rotational properties of thirty asteroids from photometric data'', Icarus Vol. 164, p. 346 (2003).
2. A. D. Storrs et al., ''A closer look at main belt asteroids 1: WF/PC images'', Icarus Vol. 173, p. 409 (2005).
3. G. A. Krasinsky et al., ''Hidden Mass in the Asteroid Belt'', Icarus, Vol. 158, p. 98 (2002).
4. PDS lightcurve data
5. asteroid lightcurve data file (March 2001)
6. MSX Infrared minor planet survey (at PDS)
7. L. F. Lim et al., ''Thermal infrared (8–13 µm) spectra of 29 asteroids: the Cornell Mid-Infrared Asteroid Spectroscopy (MIDAS) Survey'', Icarus Vol. 173, p. 385 (2005).
8. M. S. Kelley and M. J. Gaffey, ''9 Metis and 113 Amalthea: A Genetic Asteroid Pair'', Icarus Vol. 144, p. 27 (2000).
9. Graham, A.; ''New Planet'', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 8, No. 6 (dated April 14, 1848!), p. 146 (signed April 29, 1848; the discovery was first announced on April 27)
10. Graham, A.; ''Metis'', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 8, No. 7 (dated May 12, 1848), pp. 147–150)
11. Hubble Space Telescope observations
12. D. L. Mitchell et al., ''Radar Observations of Asteroids 7 Iris, 9 Metis, 12 Victoria, 216 Kleopatra, and 654 Zelinda'', Icarus Vol. 118, p. 105 (1995).
13. research at IMCCE (in French)
14. "other" reports of asteroid companions
15. J. G. Williams, ''Asteroid Families - An Initial Search'', Icarus Vol. 96, p. 251 (1992).
16. W. M. Kissling et al., ''The diameter of (9) Metis from the Occultation of SAO 190531'', Proceedings of the Astronomical Society of Australia Vol 9, p. 150 (1991).

External links

★ shape model deduced from lightcurve

★ "Notice of discovery of Metis", MNRAS '8' (1848) 146

★ Irish Astronomical History: Markree Castle Observatory and The Discovery of the Asteroid Metis

★ Horizons system — Horizons can be used to obtain a current ephemeris.