A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume IDe Morgan, Augustus
Philosophy
A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume I
De Morgan, Augustus
Circle-squaring; Perpetual motion; Science -- Miscellanea; Trisection of angle
"The remarkable calculations of M. Le Verrier--which have pointed out, as
now appears, nearly the true situation of the new planet, by resolving the
inverse problem of the perturbations--if uncorroborated by repetition of
the numerical calculations by another hand, or by independent investigation
from another quarter, would hardly justify so strong an assurance as that
conveyed by my expressions above alluded to. But it was known to me, at
that time, (I will take the liberty to cite the Astronomer Royal as my
authority) that a similar investigation had been independently entered
into, and a conclusion as to the situation of the new planet very nearly
coincident with M. Le Verrier's arrived at (in entire ignorance of his
conclusions), by a young Cambridge mathematician, Mr. Adams;[799]--who
will, I hope, {386} pardon this mention of his name (the matter being one
of great historical moment),--and who will, doubtless, in his own good time
and manner, place his calculations before the public.
"J. F. W. HERSCHEL."
_Discovery of Le Verrier's Planet._
Mr. Hind announces to the _Times_ that he has received a letter from Dr.
Bruennow, of the Royal Observatory at Berlin, giving the very important
information that Le Verrier's planet was found by M. Galle, on the night of
September 23. "In announcing this grand discovery," he says, "I think it
better to copy Dr. Bruennow's[800] letter."
"Berlin, Sept. 25.
"My dear Sir--M. Le Verrier's planet was discovered here the 23d of
September, by M. Galle.[801] It is a star of the 8th magnitude, but with a
diameter of two or three seconds. Here are its places:
h. m. s. R. A. Declination.
Sept. 23, 12 0 14.6 M.T. 328 deg. 19' 16.0" -13 deg. 24' 8.2"
Sept. 24, 8 54 40.9 M.T. 328 deg. 18' 14.3" -13 deg. 24' 29.7"
The planet is now retrograde, its motion amounting daily to four seconds of
time.
"Yours most respectfully, BRUeNNOW."
"This discovery," Mr. Hind says, "may be justly considered one of the
greatest triumphs of theoretical astronomy;" and he adds, in a postscript,
that the planet was observed at Mr. Bishop's[802] Observatory, in the
Regent's Park, {387} on Wednesday night, notwithstanding the moonlight and
hazy sky. "It appears bright," he says, "and with a power of 320 I can see
the disc. The following position is the result of instrumental comparisons
with 33 Aquarii:
Sept. 30, at 8h. 16m. 21s. Greenwich mean time--
Right ascension of planet 21h. 52m. 47.15s.
South declination 13 deg. 27' 20"."
THE NEW PLANET.
"Cambridge Observatory, Oct. 15.
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