9 Metis
main-belt asteroid From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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9 Metis is one of the biggest main belt asteroids. It is made of silicates and metallic nickel-iron, and may be the core remnant of a big asteroid that was destroyed by an ancient collision.[9]
- For the moon of Jupiter, see Metis (moon).
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Discovery and naming
Metis was found by Andrew Graham on April 25, 1848; it was his only asteroid discovery.[10] It is also the only asteroid to have been found as a result of observations from Ireland. Its name comes from the mythological Metis, a Titaness and Oceanid, daughter of Tethys and Oceanus.[11] The name Thetis was also considered and rejected (it would later devolve to 17 Thetis).
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Characteristics
Metis' direction of rotation is unknown at present.
Hubble space telescope images[2][12] and lightcurve analyses[1] are in agreement that Metis has a non-spherical stretched shape with one pointed and one broad end.[1][12] Radar observations suggest the presence of a significant flat area,[13] in agreement with the shape model from lightcurves.
What the surface is made of has been estimated as 30-40% metal-bearing olivine and 60-70% Ni-Fe metal.[9]
Light curve data on Metis led to an assumption that it could have a moon. However, subsequent observations failed to confirm this.[14][15] Later searches with the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993 found no moons.[12]
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Occultations
Metis has been seen to occult stars no less than 5 times.[16]
References
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