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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Paper, 'Of a comet [Uranus] seen on 13 March' by William Herschel

Reference number: L&P/7/192

Date: 1781

Description

Description of the first recorded observation of the planet Uranus by Sir William Herschel, from Bath. Herschel misidentifies the object as a comet throughout the letter, despite noting similarities with the characteristics of a planet. The categorisation is first proposed by the Astronomer Royal, Nevile Maskelyne then confirmed by other astronomers across Europe. William Herschel will propose in a later letter to name it Georgium Sidus.

Contains two pages of figures.

Subject: Astronomy

Published in Philosophical Transactions, as 'Account of a comet'

Read 26 April 1781

Reference number
L&P/7/192
Earliest possible date
1781
Physical description
Ink on paper and two pages of plates
Page extent
23 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

William Herschel

View page for William Herschel

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Citation

William Herschel, Paper, 'Of a comet [Uranus] seen on 13 March' by William Herschel, 1781, L&P/7/192, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/l-and-p_7_192/paper-of-a-comet-uranus-seen-on-13-march-by-william-herschel, accessed on 14 February 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/l-and-p_7_192/paper-of-a-comet-uranus-seen-on-13-march-by-william-herschel

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  • Letters and Papers

    'Letters and Papers' contains the scientific correspondence sent to the Royal Society through the 18th century, many of which were published in its journal.

    Dates: 1741 - 1806

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