Description
In 1845 a young mathematician shook the foundations of astronomy when he discovered the eighth planet in the solar system - without even looking through a telescope. Gifted, self-taught and modest, John Couch Adams proved the existence of a mystery planet using nothing more than mathematical calculations. But he failed to convince English astronomers to act on his findings, which lay unused, and he was beaten to the official discovery by an ambitious Frenchman - sparking a fierce international controversy.
Tom Standage draws on a recently rediscovered scrapbook of documents the 'Neptune File' - to reveal a dramatic story of feuding, intrigue, cover-ups and professional jealousy. But he also shows how two rival planet detectives pioneered an entirely new way of looking into space, heralding today's golden age of planet-hunting. As modern astronomers use their methods to detect worlds beyond our solar system, now Neptune points the way to the stars.
*Gripping The Neptune File will please everyone who longs to learn more about research into planets within the Solar System and beyond Dominique Naef, New Scientist
ISBN:9780140294644
