Sept. 23, 1846: Johann Galle discovers Neptune

For decades following the discovery of Uranus in 1781, astronomers were puzzled by the irregularities in the planet’s orbit. Newton’s laws could not explain the perturbations observed, suggesting another planet was out there, affecting Uranus’ path. Two astronomers, Urbain Le Verrier in Paris and John Couch Adams in Cambridge, England, independently computed its likely location,Continue reading “Sept. 23, 1846: Johann Galle discovers Neptune”
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