Metis ( "MEE tis" ) is the innermost of Jupiter's known
satellites: orbit: 128,000 km from Jupiter diameter: 40 km mass:
9.56e16 kg Metis was a Titaness who was the first wife of Zeus
(Jupiter). Discovered by Synnott in 1979 (Voyager 1). Metis and
Adrastea lie within Jupiter's main ring. They may be the source
of the material comprising the ring. Small satellites within a
planet's rings are sometimes called "mooms". Adrastea ("a DRAS
tee uh") is the second of Jupiter's known satellites: orbit:
129,000 km from Jupiter diameter: 20 km (23 x 20 x 15) mass:
1.91e16 kg Adrastea, the distributor of rewards and punishments,
was the daughter of Jupiter and Ananke. Discovered by graduate
student David Jewitt (working under Danielson) in 1979 (Voyager
1). Metis and Adrastea orbit inside the synchronous orbit radius
and inside the Roche limit. They may be small enough to avoid
tidal disruption but their orbits will eventually decay.
Adrastea is one of the smallest moons in the solar system.
Amalthea ("am al THEE uh") is