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Neptune was predicted from observed perturbations in the orbit of Neptune. Observations of Neptune in the late 19th century led to a prediction that there was
by _kst_ 8y ago
Neptune was predicted from observed perturbations in the orbit of Neptune.
Observations of Neptune in the late 19th century led to a prediction that there was another planet, beyond Neptune, that was also affecting the orbit of Uranus. Pluto was discovered -- accidentally -- during the search for that predicted 9th planet.
It was later discovered that (a) Pluto isn't nearly massive enough to explain the observed perturbations, and (b) the observations were explained without the need for another planet when more accurate mass measurements were made.
(The hypothesized Planet Nine is too far away to have a significant effect on the orbits of Uranus and Neptune.)
- mulmen 8y ago> Neptune was predicted from observed perturbations in the orbit of Neptune. How was Neptune predicted from observations of its own orbit? Am I not parsing this correctly?
- alanbernstein 8y agoHow was it an accident when they found a ninth planet while looking for a ninth planet?
- wyattpeak 8y agoSuppose I went out searching for a yeti and discovered a chupacabra. I could say it wasn't an accident - I was looking for a cryptid and found one. But I didn't actually find the thing I was looking for, just another in the same category.
- alanbernstein 8y agoI feel like a better analogy is you're looking for a yeti named Frank and you find a yeti named Danny. But maybe I'm missing something in the history of astronomy.