When was the moon Metis first discovered?
The moon Metis was first discovered on the 4th of March 1979. Stephen P. Synnott spotted this faint speck in images sent back by the Voyager 1 probe.
Questions about Metis (moon)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who officially named the moon Metis and when did that happen?
The International Astronomical Union officially named the object Metis in 1983. The name honors the Titaness from Greek mythology who was the first wife of Zeus and mother of Athena.
How large is the moon Metis compared to other inner satellites of Jupiter?
Metis measures roughly 42 kilometers across at its widest point and is the second smallest of Jupiter four inner satellites. Its smallest dimension is only about half that size, creating a lopsided appearance.
Why does the leading hemisphere of Metis shine brighter than the trailing side?
The leading hemisphere shines 1.3 times brighter than the trailing side due to frequent collisions with space debris. High velocity impacts excavate bright material possibly ice from beneath the dark outer layer.
What role does the moon Metis play in forming Jupiter's main ring system?
Meteorite impacts eject dust particles from the surfaces of Metis into space to form the main ring of Jupiter. New Horizons captured images showing Metis orbiting just inside the ring boundary on the 24th of February 2007 confirming it supplies significant portions of the dusty ring system.