Oberon, also known as Uranus IV, is a natural satellite of the outer planet, Uranus. Oberon was discovered on January 11, 1787, by astronomer William Herschel. It is the tenth-largest moon. So far the only close-up images of Oberon have been from the Voyager 2 probe, which photographed the moon during its flyby of Uranus in January 1986.
Surface Features[]
The surface of Oberon is mostly rocky, and could barely even be considered smooth. As of now, only the southern hemisphere has been explored.
Formation[]
Oberon is thought to have formed from an accretion disc or subnebula: a disc of gas and dust that either existed around Uranus for some time after its formation or was created by the giant impact that most likely gave Uranus its large obliquity. The precise composition of the subnebula is not known; however, the relatively high density of Oberon and other Uranian moons compared to the moons of Saturn indicates that it may have been relatively water-poor. Significant amounts of carbon and nitrogen may have been present in the form of carbon monoxide and N2 instead of methane and ammonia. The moons that formed in such a subnebula would contain less water ice (with CO and N2 trapped as clathrate) and more rock, explaining the higher density.
Gallery[]
| Moons of Uranus | |
|---|---|
| Inner | Cordelia • Ophelia • Puck • Mab |
| Portia Group | Bianca • Cressida • Desdemona • Juliet • Portia • Rosalind • Cupid • Belinda • Perdita |
| Major (spheroid) | Miranda • Ariel • Umbriel • Titania • Oberon |
| Caliban Group | Caliban • Stephano • S/2023 U 1 |
| Outer (irregular) | Francisco • Trinculo • Sycorax • Margaret • Prospero • Setebos • Ferdinand |