"While examining the small stars... I perceived one that appeared visibly larger than the rest: being struck with its uncommon magnitude, I ... suspected it to be a comet." Mr. #Herschel FRS, on his discovery of #Uranus, #OTD in 1781 https://t.co/emg0ixT0AW pic.twitter.com/TnnIsPUSpM
— Leigh Fletcher (@LeighFletcher) March 13, 2018
"By the observations of the most eminent Astronomers in Europe it appears, that the new star, which I had the honour of pointing out in March, 1781, is a Primary Planet of the Solar System" #Herschel on #Uranus, 1783 https://t.co/eUFjipd7ao pic.twitter.com/grvCF9oJuW
— Leigh Fletcher (@LeighFletcher) March 13, 2018
"It is not only of the greatest consequence to the astronomer, but also gives the highest pleasure to every intelligent person..." Herschel's 1783 letter measured the diameter of 'Georgium Sidus' (#Uranus) to 3.6-5.2 arcsec, 4-5x diameter of Earth: https://t.co/hxed0VhTCa pic.twitter.com/IJFmoBmjFO
— Leigh Fletcher (@LeighFletcher) March 13, 2018
"The 11th of January, ... I selected a sweep that led to the Georgian planet: ... I perceived near its disk, and within a few of its diameters, some very faint stars whose places I noted down with great care" #Herschel discovered Titania and Oberon, 1787, https://t.co/42rHU8aDt5 pic.twitter.com/PZVt6YsCJl
— Leigh Fletcher (@LeighFletcher) March 13, 2018
It would be another 64 years before Ariel and Umbriel were discovered in 1851 by William Lassell "after a ten-day painful exercise of patience", but he requested that John Herschel (William's son) have the honour of suggesting names for all four in 1852. https://t.co/rvlwgnIErp pic.twitter.com/jtpvJhGMSA
— Leigh Fletcher (@LeighFletcher) March 13, 2018
