Uranus, one of the outer planets of our solar system, was discovered through telescopic observation by which astronomer?

Introduction / Context:
Many planets visible to the naked eye such as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn have been known since ancient times. Uranus, however, was the first planet to be discovered in modern times using a telescope. Recognising which astronomer made this discovery is a classic question in both astronomy and general knowledge exams, highlighting the role of telescopic observations in expanding our understanding of the solar system.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The planet of interest is Uranus, an outer planet beyond Saturn.
• The discovery was made using a telescope rather than by ancient naked eye observation.
• The options list several famous scientists and astronomers.
• Only one of these is recorded as the discoverer of Uranus.

Concept / Approach:
William Herschel, a German born British astronomer, discovered Uranus in 1781 while systematically surveying the night sky with a telescope. At first he thought he had found a comet, but further observations showed it followed a planetary orbit. Isaac Newton developed the laws of motion and gravitation, William Henry Fox Talbot worked on photography and Nicolaus Copernicus proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system. None of these other figures is credited with discovering Uranus, so Herschel is the correct choice in general knowledge questions about this planet.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that Uranus was discovered relatively late, after the invention of telescopes.Step 2: Recall that William Herschel is the astronomer famous for discovering Uranus in 1781.Step 3: Examine the options and identify William Herschel as option C.Step 4: Recognise that Isaac Newton focus was on physics and mathematical laws, not the telescopic discovery of new planets.Step 5: Recognise that William Henry Fox Talbot contributions relate to photography and that Copernicus work dates from an era before Uranus discovery.Step 6: Select William Herschel as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Astronomy histories consistently state that Herschel discovered Uranus and that it was the first planet to be added to the classical set known to ancient cultures. Many textbooks describe how he observed it through a telescope and realised it was not a star. Newton and Copernicus are mentioned in very different contexts, such as gravitational theory and the heliocentric model. Fox Talbot appears in the history of photography. This clear difference in focus confirms that William Herschel is the discoverer of Uranus.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sir Isaac Newton formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation and made major contributions to optics, but he did not discover Uranus. William Henry Fox Talbot is connected to early photographic processes and is not an astronomer who discovered planets. Nicolaus Copernicus proposed that the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun, a revolutionary idea, but Uranus was not known in his time. Therefore, options A, B and D are not correct answers for this question.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes choose Newton or Copernicus simply because they recognise those names from physics and astronomy, even when the specific discovery mentioned belongs to another person. To avoid such mistakes, it is helpful to memorise a few key discovery pairs: Herschel and Uranus, Galle and Neptune, and Tombaugh and Pluto. Keeping those pairs in mind will help you navigate multiple choice questions about planetary discoveries more confidently.

Final Answer:
Uranus was discovered by the astronomer William Herschel.