William Herschel: Discovering Uranus

In 1781, William Herschel discovered Uranus, the first new planet found in modern times.
He originally thought it was a comet before realizing its planetary orbit.
Uranus expanded the known solar system beyond Saturn.
The discovery doubled the size of the observable planetary system.
Herschel used a homemade telescope with groundbreaking precision.
King George III rewarded him with the title “King’s Astronomer.”
Herschel also discovered two of Uranus’s moons, Titania and Oberon.
His sister, Caroline Herschel, became a famous astronomer in her own right.
Uranus’s discovery challenged old cosmic boundaries and inspired new searches.
Herschel’s find marked a turning point in observational astronomy.