MCQ Detailed View

The planet Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel on March 13, 1781. Prior to this discovery, Uranus had been observed many times by astronomers but was mistaken for a distant star due to its faint visibility to the naked eye. Herschel was using a homemade telescope when he noticed a celestial object that appeared larger and moved differently from the fixed stars, leading him to conclude it was a new planet.

This discovery was groundbreaking because:

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  Uranus was the first planet to be discovered with a telescope, unlike the other five classical planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) known since ancient times.

  
  


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  It expanded the known boundaries of the solar system at the time, doubling its size and showing that there were more planets beyond Saturn.

  
  

Key facts about Uranus:

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  It is the seventh planet from the Sun, located at an average distance of 2.87 billion kilometers (19.2 AU).

  
  


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  Known for its unique tilt of 98 degrees, causing it to rotate on its side.

  
  


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  It is a gas giant, primarily made of hydrogen, helium, and methane, which gives it a blue-green color.

  
  


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  It takes 84 Earth years to complete one orbit around the Sun.

  
  

The other options are incorrect:

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  William Caxton: Known for introducing the printing press to England, not astronomy.

  
  


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  John Davise: No historical record of discovering any planet.

  
  


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  Shelley: A reference to a poet, unrelated to astronomy.

  
  

The discovery of Uranus by Herschel marked the beginning of modern planetary astronomy, showing that our solar system was much larger than previously thought. This question belongs to Physics (Astronomy) as it relates to the history of planetary discoveries and celestial science.