Uranus

Where did this planet get it’s name?

By Deane Barker

It’s named for the Greek god of the sky, Uranus.

That name came from the ancient word for “to make rain” or even “to urinate.”

The planet was discovered in the 1700s. Its naming evolved over time. It was originally called “George’s Star” for King George, but that changed to Uranus since the other planets were named for Greek gods as well. The name was formalized in the mid 1800s.

Postscript

I just got to wondering, since the name is inadvertently hilarious in the English language (“your anus”).

I clearly remember Lynne Russell, one of the original Headline News anchors, reading the word during a news broadcast and trying to keep a straight face when the alternative interpretation was humorous.

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