Uranus

1781

13 March

Earth based

Herschell

Accidentally discovers Uranus while observing at home at 19 New king’s Square Bath.

1902

Earth based

Vesto Melvin Slipher

Measured rotation of Uranus as 10.2 hours, this is much to rapid, however it was a remarkable achievement given Uranus’ distance and featureless surface.

1975

Earth based

Kuiper Airborne Observatory

Discovers Uranus’ rings while flying 12 KM above California

1986

January

Flyby

Voyager 2

Passed within 80,000km discovers 4 more rings and 10 more satellites