Metis, discovery and location of asteroid

Metis , also known with number 9, is a small asteroid of about 365 km of diameter. Its orbit, as you can see in the graph down is between the orbit of Mars & Jupiter. Its orbital eccentricity is 0,1222 classic & little to belong to the asteroid group. Metis comes near to the Sun to a perihelion in 2,09 A.U. (astronomical Units) & its point more to aphelion to 2,68 U.A. Its orbital period, or the time that takes in giving a return around the Sun is of 3,69 years, & its period of rotation on its axis is of five hours.

The orbit of Metis is inclined with respect to the ecliptic in 5.58º, therefore, does not move much & usually remains in the zodiacals constellation. It was discovered April 25^th, 1848 by the astronomer A. Graham in the locality of Markree

Metis asteroid during year 2002 was in the constellation of Gemini.

It happened to only to 14' of arc to the north of b Geminorum or Pollux on January 9^th, & 35' to the south of the same star at April 9^th.

Its magnitude during the opposition was of 8,6, easy to locate with any telescope.

During year 2002, Metis was in the constellation of Gemini, & it was easy its location. With the telescope that I have at the moment, a refractor of 1400mm. of focal length & 90mm. of diameter I observed & I located Metis in the first night of observation that was made to 19h.34m. (U.T.) at February 7^th, 2002. At those moments one was to only 7" of arc at north of star GSC 1921 911 of magnitude 10,02, weaker than Metis whose magnitude that night was 9,3 & it observed as a precious double star, of there already its location & discovery in the first night of observation, that is to say, February 7^th, 2002.

The following day, I made the second observation to 19h.16m.(U.T.) in order to observe the displacement of the asteroid & it was, therefore, located to 8' of arc of the previous star, seeing itself clearly, its displacement.

Thanks to the program of Guide version 7,0 & with the graph that you can see down, could be located without difficulty to the Metis asteroid in the first night of observation. Therefore, the date of discovery of Metis is February 7^th, 2002.

On the other h&, down, by means of a program in Java which I have found in the network, with the courtesy of Osamu Ajiki de AstroArts & Ron Baalke of the JPL, you can see the orbit of Metis as well as its distance in relation to the Sun & the Earth & its position with respect to the Solar System for any date.

In Greek mythology Metis or Mhtis , she was one of the Titanids, daughter of the Ocean & Tetis. She is advisor of the gods & the men, being she the one that provided to Zeus the drug with which Crono vomited its children. She was the first wife of Zeus, but, by the warning of Gea & Urano of which Metis would give to light a girl & soon a boy who would overthrow to him, Zeus swallowed to Metis when he was waiting for Athenian. He tried Zeus who Metis continued advising to him from its belly.