On this day in space! Sept. 17, 1789: Astronomer William Herschel discovers Saturn's 'Death Star' moon Mimas
Astronomer William Herschel discovered Saturn's moon Mimas on September 17, 1789. While initially appearing as a bright dot, later NASA missions revealed its distinct cratered appearance, which bears a striking resemblance to the Death Star from Star Wars.
Why it matters
This piece serves as a historical science retrospective, highlighting how technological advancements in space exploration have transformed our understanding of celestial bodies.
While Mimas was discovered today in 1789, it wasn't until 1980 that we learned of its Death Star shape.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's how it works .
Copy link Reddit Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter On Sept. 17, 1789, the British astronomer William Herschel discovered Saturn's "Death Star" moon, Mimas .
Of course, " Star Wars " wasn't a thing at the time, and no one had ever heard of something called a "Death Star." But there's no denying that this moon looks just like it.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in