Editing Thebe (moon) (section)

== Physical characteristics ==
[[File:Thebe - January 4 2000 (26781645690).jpg|thumb|left|Thebe and Zethus crater imaged by the ''Galileo'' spacecraft in January 2000]]

Thebe is irregularly shaped, with the closest [[ellipsoid]]al approximation being 116×98×84&nbsp;km. Its surface area is probably between 31,000 and 59,000 (~45,000) km<sup>2</sup>. Its bulk density and mass are not known, but assuming that its mean [[density]] is like that of Amalthea (around 0.86&nbsp;g/cm<sup>3</sup>),{{sfn|Thomas Burns et al.|1998}} its mass can be estimated at 4.3{{E-sp|17}}&nbsp;kg.

Similarly to all inner satellites of Jupiter, Thebe [[synchronous rotation|rotates synchronously]] with its orbital motion, thus keeping one face always looking toward the planet. Its orientation is such that the long axis always points to Jupiter.{{sfn|Burns Simonelli et al.|2004}} At the surface points closest to and furthest from Jupiter, the surface is thought to be near the edge of the [[Roche limit]], where Thebe's gravity is only slightly larger than the [[centrifugal force]].{{sfn|Burns Simonelli et al.|2004}} As a result, the [[escape velocity]] in these two points is very small, thus allowing dust to escape easily after meteorite impacts, and ejecting it into the Thebe gossamer ring.{{sfn|Burns Simonelli et al.|2004}}

[[Zethus (crater)|Zethus]] {{IPAc-en|ˈ|z|iː|θ|ə|s}} is the largest (diameter about 40&nbsp;km) crater on and the only named surface feature of [[Jupiter]]'s moon Thebe. There are several bright spots at the [[Rim (craters)|rim]] of this crater.{{sfn|Thomas Burns et al.|1998}} It is located on the far side of Thebe, facing away from Jupiter. It was discovered by the [[Galileo (spacecraft)|''Galileo'']] spacecraft. It is named for [[Amphion and Zethus|Zethus]] (Ζῆθος), the husband of the nymph [[List of mythological figures named Thebe|Thebe]] in [[Greek mythology]].<ref name="USGS">{{cite web | url=http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6726;jsessionid=48811DDB28403E26694E8532F0E7609E?__fsk=1567792439 | title=Planetary Names: Crater, craters: Zethus on Thebe | publisher=United States Geological Survey | date=October 3, 2006 | access-date=August 7, 2015}}</ref>

The surface of Thebe is dark and appears to be reddish in color.{{sfn|Simonelli Rossier et al.|2000}} There is a substantial asymmetry between the leading and trailing [[Sphere|hemispheres]]: the leading hemisphere is 1.3&nbsp;times brighter than the trailing one. The asymmetry is probably caused by the higher velocity and frequency of [[impact crater|impacts]] on the leading hemisphere, which excavates a bright material (probably ice) from the interior of the moon.{{sfn|Simonelli Rossier et al.|2000}} The surface of Thebe is heavily cratered and it appears that there are at least three or four large [[impact crater]]s, each being roughly comparable in size to Thebe itself.{{sfn|Burns Simonelli et al.|2004}}