The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-26
The New Planet.

Professor Pierce says that the discovery of the planet
lie Vere only happy accidents that is not the plan
ct which the Frenchman, with his theory, calls for.
Professor Pierce must have changed his mind very
much, for recoec of hearing about six weeks ago
when published Lieut. Maury's letter 10 the Secrea-
ny of the Navy announcing set of elements for this
planet from the National Observatory that Professor
Pierce pronounced the lieutenant all wrong, because
the Washington elements differed in period and distance
from those by LIE Verrier
Since then, however the director of the National Obser-
vaory having been confirmed by European astronomers,
Professor Pierce has wheeled about and is making CAPT
tai out OF the Washington elements 1t appears TO us
that he is fast reasoner, and bold one TO conclude
with only the lights that he has before him. that the dis
covery of this planet is only happy accident
We clip the following notice of the professors views
from the New York Evening Post:
'From the most careful examination of the observa-
tons which have been made upon Neptune y am firm
~ convinced that 1t is not the planet of lie Verers or
Adamss theory and that it not predicted BY analy-
SIS so that ITS discovery must be regarded happy
cdent me distance OF the planet is now very nearly
represented by the number thirty; that is it Just about
thirty times the earths mean distance from the Sun This
distance early deduced from observation by the COM
puations of Adams himself and more recently establish
ed by the very accurate and thorough investigations of
Mr.. Sears c. Walker. This fact is of such fundamental
importance, that, although there seemed remain no
reasonable doubt of It's accuracy have not been salts
fed without verifying ii myself; and Mr. George p Bond
has also determined it, independently, from the Cam
bridge observations alone; and 1T confirmed
by the orbit which has been published from the dsn
guished authority of M. Valz.
GO From this distance combined with the observed anpl
lar velocity easy deduce the visible portion of The
planets motion; that is, the portion which is perpendic
uar to the line drawn to the planet Mr. Walker finds
this portion of the motion TO be almost precisely that
which the planet would have if ii were moving at the
distance 80, circular orbit and his results are in this
N, pvsls ''''''' y 'Ds ''l "el WI bona ana
"Wthout any assumption with regard to the eccentrici
tV N erfakap To
with regard to the inconsistency of the observed distance
and motion OF this planet, with the predictions of anay
Sis, The two following propositions distinctly stated
IN lie Nerrlers memoir, essential and fundamental in
his theory:
"ls That the planets mean distance from the sun can
not be less than 80, or than 379 or which is the
same thing IFS time OF revolution cannot be less than 207
years, or more than 233 years
" I'd. That the planets mean longitude on 1st January
lSOO could not have been less than 2I3 degrees or more
than 252 degrees.
NOW find, that while either of these propositions is
by itself not opposed to the observations which have
been made and to the legitimate and necessary differences
from them the two combined are decidedly inconsistent
with observations. Thus any orbit which satisfies the
observed distance and notion and also subject TO either
OF these propositions cannot satisfy the other IT, for in
stance, distance and time of revolution are adoDt
ed consistent with the first proposition then the cores
ponding longitude in 1900 must have been nj least
30 degrees distant from the limits of the second proposi
on and again, if the planet is assumed to have had in
ls)J longitude within the limits of the second
opOsitlon the corresponding time of revolution wh
which its motions will satisfy the present observations
could not exceed az years, that il must fall about 40