CHAPTER XII - URANUS

Summary

This planet was discovered by Sir W. Herschel on March 13, 1781, whilst he was engaged in scrutinising some small stars in Gemini. He observed one of them which seemed to have a more sensible diameter than the others, and to be less luminous. The application of high magnifying powers rendered these peculiarities more perceptible: he therefore made some very careful observations, and found that it was moving at the rate of 2¼″ per hour. He then announced to the Royal Society the discovery of a new comet, so little was a planet expected. Maskelyne found it, and soon suspected its true nature. On proper inquiries being made, it was found that Flamsteed had seen it 3 times, Mayer, once, and Le Monnier, 11 times previously to the epoch of Herschel's discovery; all of whom had been ignorant of its real nature.

A brisk discussion took place on the name the new planet was to have. Herschel himself desired to call it the Georgium Sidus in compliment to his friend and patron, our most excellent Sovereign King George III.; some of the foreign astronomers, amongst whom was Laplace, insisted that it ought to bear the name of its discoverer; Bode proposed Uranus as the mythological father of Saturn; and this name finally triumphed, though for a long course of years it was frequently known as the Georgian Planet.