This success permits us to hope that after thirty or forty…
“This success permits us to hope that after thirty or forty years of observation on the new Planet [Neptune], we may employ it, in its turn, for the discovery of the one following it in its order of distances from the Sun. Thus, at least, we should unhappily soon fall among bodies invisible by reason of their immense distance, but whose orbits might yet be traced in a succession of ages, with the greatest exactness, by the theory of Secular Inequalities.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The discovery of Neptune suggests that distant, unseen planets can be inferred from gravitational effects, guiding future astronomical searches.
In simple terms: Planets can be found by their influence on known bodies.
Use indirect evidence to explore the unknown.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- telescope observation
- mathematical modeling
- space missions
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we validate indirect astronomical findings?
- What limits exist in current detection methods?
Predictions rely on accurate data; errors can mislead.