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Timeline of discovery of Solar System planets and their natural satellites

Encyclopedia : T : TI : TIM : Timeline of discovery of Solar System planets and their natural satellites



 

This timeline of discovery of Solar System planets and their natural satellites charts the progress of the discovery of new bodies over history.

Historically the naming of natural satellites did not always match the times of their discovery.

In the following tables, planetary satellites are indicated in bold type (e.g. Moon) while planets, major or minor, which directly circle the Sun are in italic type (e.g. Earth). The tables are sorted by publication/announcement date. When two dates are given, the first is publication, the second is the discovery observation's date. If a third date appears, it is the actual date of discovery (the date on which the discoverer first realised what he was looking at).

*Note: Marked moons had complicated discoveries. Several moons took several years to be confirmed, and in several cases were actually lost and rediscovered. Others were found in Voyager photographs years after they were taken.

Color code

The planets and their natural satellites are marked in the following colors:
Mercury Venus Earth and satellite
Mars and satellites Jupiter and satellites Saturn and satellites
Uranus and satellites Neptune and satellites Pluto and satellites

Prehistory

Prehistory
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
Unknown Sun
center
In the Ptolemaic system, the Earth was believed to be at the center of the cosmos. Seven planets were placed in orbit around it in an order of increasing distance from the Earth, first established by the Greek Stoics: the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. This list included two objects, the Sun and the Moon, which are no longer considered to be planets; it also excluded the Earth.
Unknown Mercury
center
Sol I In Nicolaus Copernicus' heliocentric system (De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, 1543) the Earth came to be considered a planet revolving with the other planets around the Sun, in the following order of distance from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The Sun, now situated near the center of revolution, was no longer considered a planet.
Venus
center
Sol II
Earth
center
Sol III
Mars
center
Sol IV
Jupiter
center
Sol V
Saturn
center
Sol VI
Unknown Moon
center
Earth I In the Copernican system, the Moon was considered to be no longer a planet but a natural satellite of the Earth, and was the only body in that system whose revolution was not centered on the Sun.

17th century

17th century
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
1610s
March 13 1610 /
January 7 1610
Callisto
center
Jupiter IV Galileo, Sidereus Nuncius, [link]. The Galilean moons. Note: One of the moons may have been recorded by the Chinese astronomer Gan De in 364 BC. The Galilean satellites were the first celestial objects that were confirmed to orbit an object other than the Earth.
Io
center
Jupiter I
Europa
center
Jupiter II
March 13 1610 /
January 11 1610
Ganymede
center
Jupiter III
1650s
March 5 1656 /
March 25 1655
Titan
center
Saturn VI Huygens, [link]. Huygens first "published" his discovery as an anagram, sent out on June 13, 1655; later published in full in his [Systema Saturnium].
1670s
October 25 1671 Iapetus
center
Saturn VIII Cassini, [link]. Cassini published these two discoveries in Découverte de deux nouvelles planetes autour de Saturne (Sebastien Mabre-Cramoisy, 1673), translated as A Discovery of Two New Planets about Saturn, Made in the Royal Parisian Observatory by Signor Cassini, Philosophical Transactions 8 (1673), pp. 5178-5185. There may be earlier publications within the Journal des scavans.
December 23, 1672 Rhea
Saturn V
1680s
March 21, 1684 Tethys
center
Saturn III Cassini. Cassini published these two discoveries on April 22, 1686, judging by An Extract of the Journal Des Scavans of April 22 st. N. 1686, Giving an Account of Two New Satellites of Saturn, Discovered Lately by Mr. Cassini at the Royal Observatory at Paris, Philosophical Transactions 16 (1686-1692) pp. 79-85.
In his work [Kosmotheôros] (published posthumously in 1698), Christiaan Huygens relates "Jupiter you see has his four, and Saturn his five Moons about him, all plac’d in their Orbits."
Dione
center
Saturn IV
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes

18th century

18th century
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
1780s
March 13 1781 Uranus
center
Sol VII Herschel [link]. Herschel first reported the discovery of Uranus on April 26, 1781, hedging by calling it a "comet": Account of a Comet, By Mr. Herschel, F. R. S.; Communicated by Dr. Watson, Jun. of Bath, F. R. S., Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Volume 71, pp. 492-501.
January 11 1787 Titania
center
Uranus III Herschel
Oberon
center
Uranus IV Herschel
August 28 1789 Enceladus
center
Saturn II Herschel
September 17 1789 Mimas
center
Saturn I Herschel [link]
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes

19th century

19th century
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
1840s
September 23, 1846 Neptune
center
Sol VIII Galle and Le Verrier [link]
October 10, 1846 Triton
Neptune I Lassell [link] [link]
September 16, 1848 Hyperion
center
Saturn VII Bond, Bond, Lassell [link] [link]
1850s
October 24, 1851 Ariel
Uranus I Lassell [link]
Umbriel
Uranus II Lassell [link]
1870s
August 12, 1877 Deimos
center
Mars II Hall [link] [link] [link]
August 18, 1877 Phobos
Mars I Hall [link] [link] [link]
1890s
October 4 1892 /
September 9, 1892
Amalthea
center
Jupiter V Barnard [link]
March 17 1899 /
August 16, 1898
Phoebe
center
Saturn IX Pickering [link] [link]
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes

20th century

20th century
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
1900s
January 6 1905 /
December 3 1904
Himalia (formerly known as Hestia)
center
Jupiter VI Perrine [link] [link] [link] [link]
February 27 1905 /
January 2, 1905
Elara (formerly known as Hera) Jupiter VII Perrine [link] [link] [link]
March 1-6 1908 /
January 27, 1908
Pasiphaë (formerly known as Poseidon) Jupiter VIII Melotte [link] [link]
1910s
July 21, 1914 Sinope (formerly known as Hades) Jupiter IX Nicholson [link]
1930s
March 13 1930 /
January 23 1930 /
February 18, 1930
Pluto
center
Sol IX Tombaugh [link]
July 6, 1938 Lysithea (formerly known as Demeter) Jupiter X Nicholson [link]
July 30, 1938 Carme (formerly known as Pan) Jupiter XI Nicholson [link]
1940s
February 16, 1948 Miranda
center
Uranus V Kuiper [link]
May 1, 1949 Nereid
center
Neptune II Kuiper [link] [link]
1950s
September 28, 1951 Ananke (formerly known as Adrastea) Jupiter XII Nicholson [link]
1960s
December 15 1966 Janus* S/1966 S 2
center
Saturn X Dollfus [link] [link] [link] [link] [link] [link]
(Dollfus may have seen either Janus or Epimetheus)
December 18 1966 Epimetheus* 50px Saturn XI Walker [link]
1970s
September 20 1974 /
September 11, 1974
Leda Jupiter XIII Kowal [link] [link] [link] [link]
October 3 1975 /
September 30, 1975
Themisto* S/1975 J 1 Jupiter XVIII Kowal [link] [link] [link]
(Discovered and then lost)
April 13, 1978 Charon S/1978 P 1
center
Pluto I Christy [link] [link]
November 23 1979 /
July 8, 1979
Adrastea S/1979 J 1
center
Jupiter XV Jewitt, Danielson / Voyager 2 [link] [link] [link] [link] [link] [link]
1980s
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
January 19, 1980 Janus* S/1980 S 1
center
Saturn X [link] [link] [link] [link] [link]
(Confirmed by Voyager 1)
January 26, 1980 Epimetheus* S/1980 S 3
center
Saturn XI [link] [link] [link] [link] [link]
(Confirmed by Voyager 1)
March 1, 1980 Helene S/1980 S 6
center
Saturn XII Laques, Lecacheux [link] [link] [link] [link]
March 13, 1980 Calypso S/1980 S 25
center
Saturn XIV Pascu, Seidelmann, Baum, Currie [link] [link]
April 8, 1980 Telesto S/1980 S 13 Saturn XIII Smith, Reitsema, Larson, Fountain, Voyager 1 [link] [link]
April 28, 1980/
March 5, 1979
Thebe S/1979 J 2
center
Jupiter XIV Synnott, Voyager 1 [link] [link]
August 26, 1980/
March 4, 1979
Metis S/1979 J 3
center
Jupiter XVI Synnott, Voyager 1 [link]
October, 1980 Atlas S/1980 S 28
center
Saturn XV Terrile, Voyager 1 [link]
Prometheus S/1980 S 27
center
Saturn XVI Collins, Voyager 1 [link]
Pandora S/1980 S 26
center
Saturn XVII Collins, Voyager 1 [link]
December 30, 1985 Puck S/1985 U 1
Uranus XV Synnott, Voyager 2 [link]
January 3, 1986 Juliet S/1986 U 2 Uranus XI Synnott, Voyager 2 [link] [link]
Portia S/1986 U 1 Uranus XII Synnott, Voyager 2 [link] [link]
January 9, 1986 Cressida S/1986 U 3 Uranus IX Synnott, Voyager 2 [link] [link]
January 13, 1986 Desdemona S/1986 U 6 Uranus X Synnott, Voyager 2 [link] [link]
Rosalind S/1986 U 4 Uranus XIII Synnott, Voyager 2 [link] [link]
Belinda S/1986 U 5 Uranus XIV Synnott, Voyager 2 [link] [link]
January 20, 1986 Cordelia S/1986 U 7 Uranus VI Terrile, Voyager 2 [link]
Ophelia S/1986 U 8 Uranus VII Terrile, Voyager 2 [link]
January 23, 1986 Bianca S/1986 U 9 Uranus VIII Smith, Voyager 2 [link]
July 7 1989 /
< June 16, 1989
Proteus S/1989 N 1
Neptune VIII Synnott, Voyager 2 [link] [link]
August 2 1989 /
< July 28, 1989
Larissa S/1989 N 2 Neptune VII Reitsema, Hubbard, Lebofsky, Tholen, Voyager 2 [link]
Despina S/1989 N 3 Neptune V Synnott, Voyager 2 [link]
Galatea S/1989 N 4 Neptune VI Synnott, Voyager 2 [link]
September 29 1989 /
< September 18, 1989
Thalassa S/1989 N 5 Neptune IV Terrile, Voyager 2 [link]
Naiad S/1989 N 6 Neptune III Terrile, Voyager 2 [link]
1990s
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
July 16, 1990 /
August 22, 1981
Pan* S/1981 S 13
center
Saturn XVIII Showalter, Voyager 2 [link]
April 14, 1995 /
August 23, 1981
  S/1981 S 14 (see Methone below)   Saturn Gordon, Murray and Beurle [link] [link]
September 6, 1997 Caliban S/1997 U 1 Uranus XVI Gladman, Nicholson, Burns, Kavelaars [link]
Sycorax S/1997 U 2 Uranus XVII Gladman, Nicholson, Burns, Kavelaars [link]
May 18, 1999 /
January 18, 1986
Perdita* S/1986 U 10 Uranus XXV Karkoschka, Voyager 2 [link]
July 18, 1999 Setebos S/1999 U 1 Uranus XIX Kavelaars, Gladman, Holman, Petit, Scholl [link]
Stephano S/1999 U 2 Uranus XX Gladman, Holman, Kavelaars, Petit, Scholl [link]
Prospero S/1999 U 3 Uranus XVIII Holman, Kavelaars, Gladman, Petit, Scholl [link]
2000s
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
July 18-20, 2000 /
October 6, 1999
Callirrhoe S/1999 J 1 Jupiter XVII Scotti, Spahr, McMillan, Larsen, Montani, Gleason, Gehrels [link] [link]
August 7, 2000 Ymir S/2000 S 1 Saturn XIX Gladman [link] [link]
Paaliaq S/2000 S 2 Saturn XX Gladman [link] [link]
Kiviuq S/2000 S 5 Saturn XXIV Gladman [link] [link]
September 23, 2000 Siarnaq S/2000 S 3 Saturn XXIX Gladman, Kavelaars [link] [link]
Tarvos S/2000 S 4 Saturn XXI Kavelaars, Gladman [link] [link]
Ijiraq S/2000 S 6 Saturn XXII Kavelaars, Gladman [link] [link]
Thrymr S/2000 S 7 Saturn XXX Gladman, Kavelaars [link] [link]
Skathi S/2000 S 8 Saturn XXVII Kavelaars, Gladman [link] [link]
Mundilfari S/2000 S 9 Saturn XXV Gladman, Kavelaars [link] [link]
Erriapo S/2000 S 10 Saturn XXVIII Kavelaars, Gladman [link] [link]
Suttungr S/2000 S 12 Saturn XXIII Gladman, Kavelaars [link] [link]
November 9, 2000 Albiorix S/2000 S 11 Saturn XXVI Holman, Spahr [link] [link]
November 25 2000/
November 21, 2000
Themisto* S/2000 J 1 Jupiter XVIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier (Rediscovered) [link] [link]
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes

21st century

21st century
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
January 5, 2001/
November 23, 2000
Kalyke S/2000 J 2 Jupiter XXIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier, Dahm, Evans [link] [link]
Iocaste S/2000 J 3 Jupiter XXIV Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier, Dahm, Evans [link] [link]
Erinome S/2000 J 4 Jupiter XXV Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier, Dahm, Evans [link] [link]
Harpalyke S/2000 J 5 Jupiter XXII Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier, Dahm, Evans [link] [link]
Isonoe S/2000 J 6 Jupiter XXVI Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier, Dahm, Evans [link] [link]
Praxidike S/2000 J 7 Jupiter XXVII Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier, Dahm, Evans [link] [link]
January 5, 2001/
November 25, 2000
Megaclite S/2000 J 8 Jupiter XIX Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier, Dahm, Evans [link] [link]
Taygete S/2000 J 9 Jupiter XX Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier, Dahm, Evans [link] [link]
January 5, 2001/
November 26, 2000
Chaldene S/2000 J 10 Jupiter XXI Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier, Dahm, Evans [link] [link]
January 5, 2001/
December 5, 2000
  S/2000 J 11 Jupiter Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández, Magnier, Dahm, Evans [link] [link]
August 13, 2001 Trinculo S/2001 U 1 Uranus XXI Holman, Kavelaars, Milisavljevic [link] [link]
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
May 16, 2002/
December 9, 2001
Hermippe S/2001 J 3 Jupiter XXX Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
Eurydome S/2001 J 4 Jupiter XXXII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
Sponde S/2001 J 5 Jupiter XXXVI Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
Kale S/2001 J 8 Jupiter XXXVII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
May 16, 2002/
December 10, 2001
Autonoe S/2001 J 1 Jupiter XXVIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
May 16, 2002/
December 11, 2001
Thyone S/2001 J 2 Jupiter XXIX Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
Pasithee S/2001 J 6 Jupiter XXXVIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
Euanthe S/2001 J 7 Jupiter XXXIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
Orthosie S/2001 J 9 Jupiter XXXV Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
Euporie S/2001 J 10 Jupiter XXXIV Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
Aitne S/2001 J 11 Jupiter XXXI Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
August 13, 2002   S/2002 N 3 Neptune Holman, Kavelaars, Grav, Fraser, Milisavljevic [link] [link]
August 14, 2002   S/2002 N 1   Neptune Holman, Kavelaars, Grav, Fraser, Milisavljevic [link] [link]
S/2002 N 2 Holman, Kavelaars, Grav, Fraser, Milisavljevic [link] [link]
December 18 2002/
October 31, 2002
Arche S/2002 J 1 Jupiter XLIII Sheppard, Meech, Hsieh, Tholen, Tonry [link] [link]
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
August 25, 2003/
January 18, 1986
Perdita* S/1986 U 10 Uranus XXV Karkoschka (Recovered by the Hubble Space Telescope) [link]
October 2003/
August 13, 2001
Francisco* S/2001 U 3 Uranus XXII Holman, Kavelaars, Milisavljevic, Gladman [link]
February 5, 2003 Narvi S/2003 S 1 Saturn XXXI Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link]
March 4 2003/
February 5, 2003
Eukelade S/2003 J 1 Jupiter XLVII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández, Hsieh [link] [link]
  S/2003 J 2   Jupiter Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández, Hsieh [link] [link]
S/2003 J 3 Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández, Hsieh [link] [link]
S/2003 J 4 Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández, Hsieh [link] [link]
March 4 2003/
February 6, 2003
  S/2003 J 5 Jupiter Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández, Hsieh [link] [link]
Helike S/2003 J 6 Jupiter XLV Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández, Hsieh [link] [link]
March 4 2003/
February 8, 2003
Aoede S/2003 J 7 Jupiter XLI Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández, Hsieh [link] [link]
Hegemone S/2003 J 8 Jupiter XXXIX Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández [link] [link]
March 7 2003/
February 6, 2003
  S/2003 J 9   Jupiter Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández [link] [link]
S/2003 J 10 Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández [link] [link]
Kallichore S/2003 J 11 Jupiter XLIV Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández [link] [link]
March 7 2003/
February 8, 2003
  S/2003 J 12 Jupiter Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández [link] [link]
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
April 11 2003/
February 9, 2003
Cyllene S/2003 J 13 Jupiter XLVIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link]
April 11 2003/
February 8, 2003
  S/2003 J 14 Jupiter Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link]
April 11 2003/
February 6, 2003
  S/2003 J 15   Jupiter Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández [link]
S/2003 J 16 Gladman, Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Kavelaars, Petit, Allen [link]
April 11 2003/
February 8, 2003
  S/2003 J 17 Jupiter Gladman, Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Kavelaars, Petit, Allen [link]
April 11 2003/
February 6, 2003
  S/2003 J 18 Jupiter Gladman, Kavelaars, Petit, Allen, Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [link]
April 30 2003/
February 6, 2003
  S/2003 J 19 Jupiter Gladman, Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Kavelaars, Petit, Allen [link] [link]
April 30 2003/
February 9, 2003
Carpo S/2003 J 20 Jupiter XLVI Sheppard, Gladman, Kavelaars, Petit, Allen, Jewitt, Kleyna [link] [link]
May 30 2003/
February 6, 2003
Mneme S/2003 J 21 Jupiter XL Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Gladman, Kavelaars, Petit, Allen [link] [link]
August 25, 2003 Mab S/2003 U 1  

Uranus XXVI Showalter, Lissauer [link]
Cupid S/2003 U 2 Uranus XXVII Showalter, Lissauer [link]
August 29, 2003/
August 13, 2001
Ferdinand* S/2001 U 2 Uranus XXIV 2001: Holman, Kavelaars, Milisavljevic;
2003: Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt [link] [link]
August 29, 2003/
August 14, 2002
  S/2002 N 4* Neptune Holman, Kavelaars, Grav, Fraser, Milisavljevic [link] [link]
August 29, 2003 Margaret S/2003 U 3 Uranus XXIII Sheppard, Jewitt [link] [link]
September 3 2003/
August 29, 2003
Psamathe S/2003 N 1 Neptune X Jewitt, Kleyna, Sheppard, Holman, Kavelaars [link] [link]
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
January 25, 2004/
February 9, 2003
Thelxinoe* S/2003 J 22 Jupiter XLII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Gladman, Kavelaars, Petit, Allen [link] [link] [link]
(From images taken in 2003)
February 4, 2004/
February 6, 2003
  S/2003 J 23* Jupiter Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Fernández [link] [link]
August 16 2004 /
June 1, 2004
Methone* S/2004 S 1
=S/1981 S 14?
center
Saturn XXXII Porco, Charnoz, Brahic, Dones / Cassini-Huygens [link] [link]
Pallene S/2004 S 2
center
Saturn XXXIII Porco, Charnoz, Brahic, Dones / Cassini-Huygens [link] [link]
September 9 2004 /
June 21, 2004
  S/2004 S 3
center
Saturn Murray, Porco et al. / Cassini-Huygens [link] [link]
September 9 2004 /
June 21?, 2004
  S/2004 S 4 Saturn Spitale, Porco et al. / Cassini-Huygens [link] [link]
November 8 2004 /
October 21, 2004
Polydeuces S/2004 S 5 Saturn XXXIV Porco et al. / Cassini-Huygens [link]
November 8 2004 /
October 28, 2004
  S/2004 S 6 Saturn Porco et al. / Cassini-Huygens [link]
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes
May 4, 2005 /
December 12, 2004
  S/2004 S 7   Saturn Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Marsden
[link] [link] [link] [link]
S/2004 S 8
S/2004 S 9
S/2004 S 10
S/2004 S 11
S/2004 S 12
S/2004 S 13
S/2004 S 14
S/2004 S 15
May 4, 2005 /
December 13, 2004
  S/2004 S 16   Saturn Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna, Marsden
[link] [link] [link] [link]
S/2004 S 17
S/2004 S 18
May 6 2005 /
May 1, 2005
Daphnis S/2005 S 1
center
Saturn XXXV Porco et al. / Cassini-Huygens [link]
October 31, 2005/
May 15, 2005 /
June 15, 2005
Nix S/2005 P 2 Pluto II Weaver, Stern, Mutchler, Steffl, Buie, Merline,
Spencer, Young, Young [link]
Hydra S/2005 P 1 Pluto III

  S/2004 S 19

 

Saturn

[link]
  S/2006 S 1   Saturn [link]
S/2006 S 2
S/2006 S 3
S/2006 S 4
S/2006 S 5
S/2006 S 6
S/2006 S 7
S/2006 S 8
Date Name Designation Image Planet/Number Designation References/Notes

External links

 


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