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Happy Anniversary, Uranus: 220 Years Since Distant Giant Found
By Wil Milan
Special to SPACE.com
posted: 07:00 am ET
13 March 2001
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In March of 1781, William Herschel, a dedicated amateur astronomer who became one of the great astronomers of the modern era, spotted an object that moved a bit from night to night On March 13 of 1781, William Herschel, a dedicated amateur astronomer who became one of the great astronomers of the modern era, spotted an object that moved a bit from night to night. At first he thought it was a comet, but over time it became evident it wasnt a comet, but rather a new planet -- one much farther out than any previously known world.
| On the night of March 13, 1781, Uranus looked like just another "star" in the heavens. Use this movie to track Uranus from night to night. Like Herschel, you will see it change position among the background stars. |
[inset]News of the discovered planet rocked the world of science. The presence of Uranus doubled the known size of the solar system and tossed out all assumptions about the number of planets within it [Read the rest of the history of the planet Uranus in our Reference Section] Learn more about Uranus: overview images & maps moons & rings climate & structure exploration
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