Herschel Discovers Uranus Moons: Solar System Expands
Peering through his massive homemade telescope, William Herschel spotted something no human had ever seen: two tiny, distant worlds circling a planet most astronomers didn't yet know existed. Titania and Oberon—named for Shakespeare's fairy royalty—would be the first moons discovered around Uranus. And Herschel, a German-born musician turned astronomer, wasn't just looking up: he'd already mapped hundreds of nebulae and discovered infrared radiation. These moons were just another surprise in his relentless cosmic hunt.
January 11, 1787
239 years ago
Key Figures & Places
William Herschel
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Titania (moon)
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Oberon (moon)
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Uranus' natural satellites
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Uranus (planet)
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discovers
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William Herschel
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Timeline of discovery of Solar System planets and their moons
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Titania (moon)
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Oberon (moon)
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Moons of Uranus
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Uranus
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