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Whose observations first proved that Uranus was not a star?

Quick Answer

William Herschel discovered Uranus in 1781. He first thought it might be a comet before it was recognized as a planet.

The Full Story

William Herschel, a German-born British astronomer, spotted Uranus on 13 March 1781 while surveying stars with a telescope. He initially reported it as a comet because it did not look like a normal fixed star. Continued observations showed it was a new planet beyond Saturn. Herschel’s discovery expanded the known Solar System for the first time in recorded history.

Key Facts

1.Uranus was discovered on 13 March 1781
2.Herschel first mistook it for a comet
3.It was the first planet discovered with a telescope

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"The “star” that turned out to be a new planet"

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