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Oberon (moon)

Oberon
 
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Discovery
Discovered by W. Herschel
Discovered in January 11, 1787
Orbital characteristics
Mean radius 583519 km
Eccentricity ~0.0016
Orbital period 13.463234d
Inclination ~0.7°
Is a satellite of Uranus
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter 1522.8 km
Surface area km2
Mass 3.014×1021 kg
Mean density 1.63 g/cm3
Surface gravity 0.346 m/s2
Rotation period  ?
Axial tilt  ?°
Albedo 0.24
Surface temp.
min mean max
K K K
Atmospheric pressure 0 kPa


Oberon is the outermost of the major moons of the planet Uranus. It was discovered on January 11, 1787 by William Herschel. All of the moons of Uranus are named for characters from Shakespeare or Alexander Pope: Names for the first four discovered moons of Uranus (Oberon, Titania, Ariel, Umbriel) were given by John Herschel, the son of William. Oberon was named after Oberon, the king of the Faeries in A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Physical features

Oberon is composed of roughly 50% water ice, 30% silicate rock, and 20% methane-related carbon/nitrogen compounds. It has an old, heavily cratered, and icy surface which shows shows little evidence of internal activity other than some unknown dark material that apparently covers the floors of many craters.

Scientists recognise only two types of geological feature on Oberon: craters and chasmata. See List of geological features on Oberon.

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