1695: uranus (SS.2) Aug 5, 2019

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All of the 6 planets known to the Romans were named for gods, but the fact that the rest are too was never a forgone conclusion. Uranus was the next to be considered a planet, though it was always known about even before telescopes. It was named because Uranus was the father of Saturn in Roman mythology, and Saturn is the planet before Uranus, though the name wasn't popular outside of Britain. The discoverer Herschel wanted to name it after King George III, calling it 'Georgium Sidus' (George's Star), though it was not a star, though this name was unpopular, and many called it 'Neptune' for some time, as a way to commemorate British naval victories. The last planet, 'Neptune', will be discussed tomorrow.

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