Le Verrier, magnificent and detestable astronomer
By: James Lequeux ; edited with an introduction by William Sheehan ; translated by Bernard Sheehan
Contributors: Sheehan, William, 1954-
Series: Astrophysics and space science library -- 397; Astrophysics and space science library -- 397.
Publisher: Springer
Published: 2013
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 337
ISBN-13: 9781461455646
Subjects: Astronomers; Biography; SCIENCE / Astronomy
Work titles: Le Verrier
Description: Le Verrier was a superb scientist. His discovery of Neptune in 1846 made him the most famous astronomer of his time. He produced a complete theory of the motions of the planets which served as a basis for planetary ephemeris for a full century. Doing this, he discovered an anomaly in the motion of Mercury which later became the first proof of General Relativity. He also founded European meteorology. However his arrogance and bad temper created many enemies, and he was even fired from his position of Director of the Paris Observatory --
Notes: Originally published in French as: Le Verrier : savant magnifique et détesté. Les Ulis : EDP sciences ; Paris : Observatoire de Paris, 2009.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 325-328) and index.
Table of contents: title: The Years of His Youth (1811-1845) --; title: The Discovery of Neptune (1845-1846) --; title: Waiting in the Wings (1847-1853) --; title: The Observatory: At Last! --; title: The Dictator (1854-1870) --; title: The Fall (1870-1872) --; title: The Second Reign (1873-1877) --; title: Telegraphic Longitudes --; title: Le Verrier and Meteorology --; title: The Legacy of Le Verrier.