9 Metis

For the moon of Jupiter, see Metis (moon).
9 Metis

A three-dimensional model of 9 Metis based on its light curve.
Discovery
Discovered by A. Graham
Discovery date 25 April 1848
Designations
Pronunciation /ˈmiːtᵻs/
Named after
 Mētis
1974 QU2
Main belt
Adjectives Metidian /mɛˈtɪdiən/
Orbital characteristics[1]
Epoch 14 July 2004 (JD 2453200.5)
Aphelion 400.548 Gm (2.678 AU)
Perihelion 313.556 Gm (2.096 AU)
357.052 Gm (2.387 AU)
Eccentricity 0.122
1346.815 d (3.69 a)
19.21 km/s
274.183°
Inclination 5.576°
68.982°
5.489°
Proper orbital elements[2]
2.3864354 AU
0.1271833
4.6853629°
97.638314 deg / yr
3.68708 yr
(1346.705 d)
Precession of perihelion
 38.754973 arcsec / yr
Precession of the ascending node
 −41.998090 arcsec / yr
Physical characteristics
Dimensions 222×182×130 km[3]
235×195×140 km[4][5][6]
190 km (Dunham)[1]
Mass (1.47±0.20)×1019 kg[3]
Mean density
 4.12±1.33 g/cm³[3]
~0.070 m/s²
~0.11 km/s
0.2116 d (5.079 h)[1]
Albedo 0.118 (geometric)[1]
Temperature ~173 K
max: 282 K (+9 °C)[7]
Spectral type
 S-type[8]
8.1[9] to 11.83
6.28[1]
0.23" to 0.071"

    9 Metis is one of the larger 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.[10] Metis is estimated to contain just under half a percent of the total mass of the asteroid belt.[3]

    Discovery and naming

    The first 10 asteroids profiled against Earth's Moon. 9 Metis is second from right.

    Metis was discovered by Andrew Graham on 25 April 1848, at Markree Observatory in Ireland; it was his only asteroid discovery.[11] It also has been the only asteroid to have been discovered as a result of observations from Ireland until 7 October 2008, when, 160 years later, Dave McDonald from observatory J65 discovered 2008 TM9.[12] Its name comes from the mythological Metis, a Titaness and Oceanid, daughter of Tethys and Oceanus.[13] 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 the Metidian pole points towards either ecliptic coordinates (β, λ) = (23°, 181°) or (9°, 359°) with a 10° uncertainty.[5] 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[6][14] and lightcurve analyses[5] are in agreement that Metis has an irregular elongated shape with one pointed and one broad end.[5][14] Radar observations suggest the presence of a significant flat area,[15] in agreement with the shape model from lightcurves.

    The Metidian surface composition has been estimated as 30–40% metal-bearing olivine and 60–70% Ni-Fe metal.[10]

    Light curve data on Metis led to an assumption that it could have a satellite. However, subsequent observations failed to confirm this.[16][17] Later searches with the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993 found no satellites.[14]

    Mass

    In 2007, Baer and Chesley estimated Metis to have a mass of 1.6-to-2.5×1019 kg.[4] This would give this stony asteroid a density of about 6 (3.3 to 8.9) g/cm³.[4] A more recent estimate by Baer suggests it has a mass of (1.47±0.20)×1019 kg.[3] Metis appears to be more dense than most other asteroids with a diameter close to 200 km. This may support the theory that Metis is the core remnant of a large evolved asteroid for which 90% of the original mass has been lost.[10]

    Metis passed within 0.034AU, or 5,000,000 kilometres (3,100,000 mi), of Vesta on 19 August 2004.[18]

    Family relationships

    Metis was once considered to be a member of an asteroid family known as the Metis family,[19] 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.[10] Metis would be the relatively intact core remnant, and Amalthea a fragment of the mantle.[10] Coincidentally, both Metis and Amalthea have namesakes among Jupiter's inner moons.

    Occultations

    In 1984 an occultation of a star produced seven chords that Kristensen used to derive an ellipsoidal profile of 210x170km.[20] On 6 August 1989, Metis occulted a magnitude 8.7 star producing five chords suggesting a diameter of 173.5 km.[20] Observations of an occultation on 11 February 2006, produced only two chords indicating a minimum diameter 156 km.[21] All three of these occultations fit the ellipsoid 222×182×130 km suggested by Baer.[3]

    On March 7, 2014, Metis occulted the star HIP 78193 (magnitude 7.9) over parts of Europe and the Middle East.[22][23]

    See also

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 9 Metis" (last observation: 9 September 2008). Retrieved 10 November 2008.
    2. ↑ "AstDyS-2 Metis Synthetic Proper Orbital Elements". Department of Mathematics, University of Pisa, Italy. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jim Baer (2010). "Recent Asteroid Mass Determinations". Personal Website. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
    4. 1 2 3 Baer, James; Steven R. Chesley (2007). "Astrometric masses of 21 asteroids, and an integrated asteroid ephemeris" (PDF). Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy. Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007. 100 (2008): 27–42. Bibcode:2008CeMDA.100...27B. doi:10.1007/s10569-007-9103-8. Retrieved 10 November 2008.
    5. 1 2 3 4 J. Torppa et al., Shapes and rotational properties of thirty asteroids from photometric data, Icarus Vol. 164, p. 346 (2003).
    6. 1 2 A. D. Storrs et al., A closer look at main-belt asteroids 1: WF/PC images, Icarus Vol. 173, p. 409 (2005).
    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. ↑ asteroid lightcurve data file (March 2001)
    9. ↑ Donald H. Menzel & Jay M. Pasachoff (1983). A Field Guide to the Stars and Planets (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. p. 391. ISBN 0-395-34835-8.
    10. 1 2 3 4 5 Kelley, Michael S; Michael J. Gaffey (2000). "9 Metis and 113 Amalthea: A Genetic Asteroid Pair". Icarus. 144 (1): 27–38. Bibcode:2000Icar..144...27K. doi:10.1006/icar.1999.6266.
    11. ↑ Graham, A.; New Planet, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 8, No. 6 (dated 14 April 1848!), p. 146 (signed 29 April 1848; the discovery was first announced on 27 April)
    12. ↑ "Amateur Astronomer Becomes Second Ever to Discover Asteroid from Ireland, After 160 Years". International Year of Astronomy in Ireland. 10 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
    13. ↑ Graham, A.; Metis, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. 8, No. 7 (dated 12 May 1848), pp. 147–150
    14. 1 2 3 Hubble Space Telescope observations
    15. ↑ 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).
    16. ↑ research at IMCCE (in French)
    17. ↑ "other" reports of asteroid companions
    18. ↑ "JPL Close-Approach Data: 9 Metis". 15 March 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
    19. ↑ J. G. Williams, Asteroid Families – An Initial Search, Icarus Vol. 96, p. 251 (1992).
    20. 1 2 Kissling, W.M; Blow, G. L.; Allen, W. H.; Priestley, J.; Riley, P.; Daalder, P.; George, M. (1991). "The Diameter of 9 Metis from the Occultation of SAO:190531". Proceedings of the Astronomical Society of Australia. 9: 150. Bibcode:1991PASAu...9..150K.
    21. ↑ "Occultation of TYC 0862-00695-1 by (9) Metis 2006 February 11". Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 6 December 2008. (Chords)
    22. ↑ Asteroid Occulations
    23. ↑ Map

    External links

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