Editing Metis (moon) (section)

== Physical characteristics ==
[[File:Metis moon.jpg|thumb|Metis imaged by [[Galileo (spacecraft)|''Galileo'']] on 4 January 2000]]

Metis has an irregular shape and measures {{val|60|x|40|x|34|u=km}} across, which makes it the second smallest of the four [[inner satellites of Jupiter]].{{sfn|Thomas Burns et al.|1998}} Therefore, a very rough estimate of its surface area could be placed between 5,800 and 11,600 square kilometers (approx. 8,700).{{Cn|date=March 2024|reason=Where does the range in estimation come from?}} The bulk composition and mass of Metis are not known, but it is likely that its mean density is 1.5&nbsp;g/cm<sup>3</sup> or higher,{{sfn|Anderson Johnson et al.|2005}} and its mass can therefore be estimated as ~6.4×10<sup>16</sup>&nbsp;kg or higher.

The surface of Metis is heavily cratered, dark, and appears to be reddish in color{{Failed verification|date=January 2025}}. There is a substantial asymmetry between the leading and trailing [[Sphere|hemispheres]]: the leading hemisphere is 1.3 times brighter than the trailing one. The asymmetry is probably caused by the higher velocity and frequency of impacts on the leading hemisphere, which excavates a bright material (presumably ice) from its interior.{{sfn|Simonelli Rossier et al.|2000}}