Desdemona

Desdemona made its debut in the realm of planetary science when it was discovered on January 13, 1986, during the Voyager 2 spacecraft's close encounter with the planet. Drawing its name from Shakespearean literature, specifically the character Desdemona in "Othello," this moon is characterized by its relatively small size, with an estimated diameter of about 58 kilometers (36 miles). In terms of its orbital characteristics, Desdemona occupies a moderate orbit around Uranus and is categorized as an inner moon. What sets it apart is its orbit, which is both inclined and retrograde, signifying that it orbits Uranus in the opposite direction of the planet's rotation. Our understanding of Desdemona primarily hinges on observations made during Voyager 2's landmark flyby of Uranus in 1986. Desdemona's exact composition and origin remain subjects of ongoing scientific inquiry. However, it is believed to be predominantly composed of water ice and rocky materials, a composition commonly found among many moons in the outer solar system. Desdemona is part of the "Portia Group," a cluster of moons sharing similar attributes. As an inner moon of Uranus, its orbital dynamics are influenced by the gravitational presence of larger moons like Portia.