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The major moons of ____________ were named after literary characters.

a) Jupiter
b) Saturn
c) Mars
d) Uranus

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The major moons of Uranus were named after characters from English literature, a departure from the Greek and Roman mythological names used elsewhere in the solar system. The correct option is d.

Step-by-step explanation:

The major moons of Uranus were named after literary characters. This is in contrast to other celestial bodies which often draw from Greek and Roman mythology.

According to the International Astronomical Union's (IAU) naming conventions, various solar system features have distinct naming themes based on their locations and characteristics.

For instance, while craters on Venus are named for notable women, craters on Mercury celebrate famous novelists and poets. Uranus' moons received names inspired by characters from English literature, as chosen by William Herschel, the discoverer of Uranus.

Hence, option d is correct.

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