People are just now realizing that Uranus was once known by a completely different name.
Discovered in 1781, the planet is famous for its distinct icy rings and its name that often brings a smile. In 2023, NASA unveiled stunning new images of this favorite celestial body, captivating space enthusiasts worldwide.
On Friday, November 21, Uranus is expected to shine in the night sky as it reaches opposition. This event causes the planet to align perfectly with the Earth and the Sun, making it appear brighter and larger than usual. Remarkably, Uranus will be visible to the naked eye.
It’s hard to picture the cyan-hued ice giant being called anything other than Uranus.
Its initial name, however, was deemed too controversial among astronomers and never gained popularity.
The planet was discovered by German-British composer and scientist William Herschel on March 13, 1781, using his 40-foot Newtonian reflector telescope, the most powerful of its time.
Constructed in 1789, Herschel received grants amounting to £4,000 (approximately $5,230) from King George III. Adjusted for today’s value, this amount is equivalent to £533,524, or $698,000.
With this substantial support in mind, Herschel wanted to honor the King who contributed to his discovery. Therefore, he initially named the planet George, or more specifically, Georgium Sidus, which is Latin for George’s Star.
NASA explains that Herschel’s choice of name, though not immediately controversial, led to disputes within the space community.
The name George did not align with the tradition of naming planets after figures from Greek or Roman mythology and furthermore, the planet was not a star.
Thus, the name did not stick until a more suitable one was proposed.
NASA notes that German astronomer Johann Elert Bode suggested the name Uranus.
“Uranus is the ancient Greek deity of the Heavens, the earliest supreme god,” according to NASA, adding that the name did not become commonly used until 1850.
Royal Museums Greenwich notes that Uranus’ equivalent in Roman mythology is Caelus, who is the father of Saturn, with Saturn being the father of Jupiter.
NASA also mentions that today, new discoveries are typically cataloged by numbers or named after the observatories that identify them, pending official approval from the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the only body authorized to name celestial bodies.
And now you know!