How were the different objects in the solar system discovered? What are the properties of the ice giants?

You can find infomration on discovery of solar sysyem objects at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_discovery_of_Solar_System_planets_and_their_moons

The "ice giant" planets are Uranus and Neptune. For their properties, see
http://www.astrophysicsspectator.com/topics/planets/GiantIcePlanets.html

The objects in the solar system have been discovered through various methods, including direct observation, mathematical predictions, and technological advancements. Here's a general overview of how different objects were discovered:

1. Sun and Moon: The Sun and Moon have been known since ancient times through direct observation.

2. Planets: Early civilizations recognized certain objects that traveled across the sky differently from stars. These objects were identified as the planets visible to the naked eye: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were later discovered using telescopes.

3. Asteroids: The first asteroid, Ceres, was discovered in 1801 by Italian astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi. Since then, thousands of asteroids have been identified using telescopes and space missions.

4. Comets: Comets have been known throughout history, with some of the earliest recorded comets dating back to ancient civilizations. They were initially seen as celestial omens. The discovery of new comets continues through telescopic observations and space missions.

5. Meteoroids: These are small rocky or metallic objects from space that enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up, creating meteors or shooting stars. They are detected through atmospheric observations and meteorite recoveries.

Regarding the ice giants, Uranus and Neptune are classified as ice giants due to their high abundance of "ices" in their atmospheres. Here are some key properties of the ice giants:

1. Composition: Ice giants consist mainly of hydrogen and helium, but they also contain larger amounts of ices like water, ammonia, and methane compared to gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn.

2. Size: Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and is about 14 times the mass of Earth. Neptune, the eighth planet, is about 17 times the mass of Earth.

3. Appearance: The atmospheres of ice giants are composed of various layers, with the uppermost layer mostly consisting of hydrogen and helium. Below these outer layers, a mantle of water, ammonia, and methane ices surrounds a core made of rock and metal.

4. Rings: Both Uranus and Neptune have ring systems, similar to Saturn, although they are less prominent. These rings consist of small particles of dust, ice, and rock.

5. Moons: Both ice giants have a number of moons. Uranus has 27 known moons, with the largest being Titania and Oberon, while Neptune has 14 known moons, including Triton, its largest moon.

6. Weather: The ice giants exhibit extreme weather conditions, including violent storms and extreme winds. For example, Neptune has the fastest winds in the solar system, with speeds reaching over 1,000 miles per hour.

These properties have been obtained through telescopic observations, space missions (such as Voyager 2 flybys), and indirect measurements of their atmospheres.