The Orbit of Neptune, computed by Sear C. Walker and Formulae in the Theory of Neptune. From the Proceedings of the American Academy. Read December 1847

Peirce, Benjamin & Sear C. Walker

Published by [Boston, 1848

About this Item

Single sheet folded to pp. 8. 8vo. In 1846 the planet Neptune was discovered by Galle through the independent research of John Couch Adams and Urbain Le Verrier by recognizing that the perturbation of Uranus were not fully accounted for the action of the other bodies of the solar system. Peirce shocked the scientific world by maintaining the discovery was a happy accident. "Peirce pointed out that Le Verrier had based his calculations on 2 fundamental propositions, one limiting the mean distance of the supposed planet, the other limiting its mean longitude, and that the two were incompatible. 'Neptune,' he says, 'cannot then be the planet of M. Le Verrier's theory, and cannot account for the observed perturbations of Uranus under the form of the inequaliyties involved in the analysis'.Peirce's criticism of Le Verrier's inconsistent propositions was so pertinent that both Le Verrier's propostions were not realized in the actual planet." Struik, Yankee Science in the Making, pp. 332-3. Poggendorff II, p. 388 Unbound, uncut, as issued. Laid into quarter brown calf dropbox Single sheet folded to pp. 8. 8vo.

Seller Inventory # 322424

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Orbit of Neptune, computed by Sear C. Walker and Formulae in the Theory of Neptune. From the Proceedings of the American Academy. Read December 1847
• Publisher: [Boston
• Publication Date: 1848
• Seller catalogs:
  • Science, Medicine & Natural History