It was discovered on 25 January 1965, by Irish astronomer David Andrews at Boyden Observatory near Bloemfontein in Free State, South Africa .
[1] Being a Mars-crosser, Mette will make a relatively close approach to Mars on April 15, 2023, when it will pass near the Red Planet at a distance of less than 0.08 AU (12,000,000 km).
They gave a rotation period of approximately 2.981 hours (best rated results) with a brightness variation between 0.22 and 0.38 magnitude, indicating a moderately elongated body (U=3/3/3).
[9][10][14][15] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link assumes a standard albedo for stony asteroids of 0.20 and calculates a diameter of 8.97 kilometers,[4] while observations with the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer gave a diameter of 5.44 kilometers and an albedo of 0.544.
[5] This minor planet was named by the discoverer after his wife, Mette Andrews for her comprehension of his nocturnal working hours and absence from home.