Very little is known about Uranus' small and fast-moving moon Portia. It is known that Portia has a diameter of 140 km, making it one of the largest of Uranus' lesser satellites. It is also known that Portia orbits Uranus in less than one Earth day.
Discovery:
Portia was discovered January 1986 in images sent back by the Voyager 2 spacecraft during its flyby of Uranus.
How Portia Got its Name:
This moon is named after Portia, the heroine of William Shakespeare's 16th century play "The Merchant of Venice." It was originally designated S/1986 U 1.
Moons of Uranus are named for characters in William Shakespeare's plays and from Alexander Pope's "Rape of the Lock."
