Can we pronounce “Uranus” better?

NASA/ESA and Erich Karkoschka, University of Arizona

Years ago everyone pronounced the seventh planet from the Sun, “Your-ANUS,” emphasis on the “anus.” Okay, it was fun for a while, but then the jokes got really old, so scientists changed it to “URINE-us.” Really? That’s the best they could do- just go from being the “butt” of jokes to the flip side?

I have a suggestion that no one will heed, but I’ll throw it out there anyway. “Oo-RAHN-us, with the emphasis on the middle syllable. This is closer to the ancient Greek pronunciation of roughly “Oo-rahn-OS,” with the emphasis on the last syllable, but it preserves the emphasis that we got used to, while removing the association with excretory bodily functions. He’s an ancient Greek god, for crying out loud. 

Let’s show some respect and bring it at least closer to the original pronunciation. This will get rid of two ugly pronunciations and quell some of the giggling.

I’m going to start calling it that, and I don’t care what people think. Will you join me to promote “Oo-RAHN-us” and make public star parties and science classes a little less awkward (notwithstanding we are a bunch of sometimes socially awkward astro-geeks to begin with)?