Timeline of Discovery of Solar System Planets and Their Moons - Key

Key

In the following tables, planetary satellites are indicated in bold type (e.g. Moon) while planets and dwarf planets, which directly circle the Sun, are in italic type (e.g. Earth). The tables are sorted by publication/announcement date. Dates are annotated with the following symbols:

  • i: for date of first imaging (photography, etc.);
  • o: for date of first human visual observation, either through telescope or on photographic plate (the true discovery moment);
  • p: for date of announcement or publication.

In a few cases, the date is uncertain and is then marked "(?)".

* Note: Moons marked by an asterisk (*) had complicated discoveries. Some took 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 legend

The planets and their natural satellites are marked in the following colors:

Planets
Mercury Venus Earth and satellite Mars and satellites Jupiter and satellites Saturn and satellites Uranus and satellites Neptune and satellites
Dwarf planets
Ceres Pluto and satellites Haumea and satellites Makemake Eris and satellite
Designations
  • Other designations are synonyms or periphrases sometimes encountered for the object.
  • Permanent designations (of planetary satellites) are explained here.
  • Temporary designations are explained here.

Read more about this topic:  Timeline Of Discovery Of Solar System Planets And Their Moons

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