Herschel Discovers Uranus: Solar System Expands Beyond Saturn
Sir William Herschel spotted a moving object in his garden telescope on March 13, 1781, and initially mistook it for a comet. His careful measurements of its apparent size under high magnification revealed it was not a star or comet, but the first new planet discovered since antiquity. This finding shattered the ancient belief that the solar system ended at Saturn and expanded humanity's map of the cosmos to include a world beyond.
March 13, 1781
245 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on March 13
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The remains of Saint Nicephorus returned to Constantinople, finding their final resting place in the Church of the Holy Apostles. This ceremonial reburial signa…
Cardinal Gregorio Conti assumed the title of Victor IV, challenging the legitimacy of Pope Innocent II after the death of Anacletus II. This schism deepened the…
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