Miranda 1

Discovery: Miranda was discovered by the astronomer Gerard Kuiper on February 16, 1948. Name: Miranda is named after a character in William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest." Orbital Characteristics: Miranda is the fifth-largest moon of Uranus and has an irregular, elongated shape. It orbits Uranus at an average distance of about 129,900 kilometers (80,700 miles). Size: Miranda has a diameter of approximately 472 kilometers (293 miles). It is one of the smallest spherical moons in the Uranian system. Surface Features: Miranda has one of the most diverse and interesting surfaces among all the moons in the solar system. It exhibits a combination of heavily cratered regions, as well as complex valleys, cliffs, and other unusual geological formations. Coronae: One of the most distinctive features on Miranda's surface is a series of large, oval-shaped regions called "coronae." These coronae are believed to have formed through tectonic and volcanic processes. Verona Rupes: Miranda is also home to Verona Rupes, which is the tallest cliff in the solar system, with an estimated height of about 20 kilometers (12 miles). Voyager 2 Flyby: The only close-up images of Miranda were obtained by the Voyager 2 spacecraft during its flyby of Uranus in January 1986. These images revealed the moon's complex and varied surface features.