Metis
Metis is an irregularly shaped inner moon of Jupiter, orbiting close to the planet's cloud tops.
Also known as: Jupiter XVI, Metis moon
How big is it?
43 km · mean-equivalent diameter
Mean-equivalent diameter · approximate
Typical recorded range: 40 km to 46 km.
A little perspective
Metis vs Phobos: diameter comparison
The mean-equivalent diameter of Metis is about 1.91 times the mean diameter of Phobos.
Metis is an irregularly shaped inner moon of Jupiter, orbiting close to the planet's cloud tops.
Phobos is the larger and innermost moon of Mars, notable for its irregular shape and heavily cratered surface.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Metis
Mean-equivalent diameter: 43 km; approximate; range 40 km–46 km.
Jupiter moon Metis is an irregular inner satellite approximately 43 km in mean-equivalent diameter. Its low-detail illustrated shape remains schematic because the surface is poorly resolved.
NASA JPL — Planetary satellite physical parameters
The marked mean-equivalent diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Phobos
Representative mean diameter: 22.53 km; approximate; range 18 km–27 km.
Mars’s larger moon is irregular, about 27 × 22 × 18 km. The 22.533 km comparison diameter is representative rather than a spherical edge.
The marked representative mean diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 43 km
We compare the mean-equivalent diameter of Metis. This is an estimate; check the notes for its rounding and uncertainty. The recorded range is 40 km to 46 km.
Jupiter moon Metis is an irregular inner satellite approximately 43 km in mean-equivalent diameter. Its low-detail illustrated shape remains schematic because the surface is poorly resolved.
The marked horizontal span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 km | 40 km to 46 km | approximate |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valuePlaces and natural featuresOnyx River32 kmApproximate main-channel lengthThe Onyx River is a seasonal meltwater stream in Antarctica’s McMurdo Dry Valleys, regarded as the continent’s longest river.
Around the same scalePlanets, moons and spacePhobos22.53 kmRepresentative mean diameterPhobos is the larger and innermost moon of Mars, notable for its irregular shape and heavily cratered surface.
Nearest higher valuePlaces and natural featuresYellowstone Caldera70 kmApproximate long axisThe Yellowstone Caldera is a large volcanic collapse structure within Yellowstone National Park in the United States.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- NASA JPL — Planetary satellite physical parametersPublished mean radii and gravitational parameters GM. Spherical areas, volumes, masses and local gravity are explicitly derived.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
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