--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We see it [the as-yet unseen, probable…" description: "\"We see it [the as-yet unseen, probable new planet, Neptune] as Columbus saw America from the coast of Spain. Its movements have been felt, trembling al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/william-herschel-28349_america_we-see-it-the-as-yet-unseen-probable-new_93769.png" --- # We see it \[the as-yet unseen, probable new planet… ![“We see it [the as-yet unseen, probable new planet, Neptune] as Columbus saw America from the coast of Spain. Its movements have been felt, trembling along the far-reaching line of our analysis with a certainty hardly inferior to that of ocular demonstration.” quote by William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/william-herschel-28349_america_we-see-it-the-as-yet-unseen-probable-new_93769.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/william-herschel-28349_america_we-see-it-the-as-yet-unseen-probable-new_93769.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/william-herschel-28349_america_we-see-it-the-as-yet-unseen-probable-new_93769.png) > “We see it \[the as-yet unseen, probable new planet, Neptune\] as Columbus saw America from the coast of Spain. Its movements have been felt, trembling along the far-reaching line of our analysis with a certainty hardly inferior to that of ocular demonstration.” [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The unseen planet exerts gravitational influence detectable through subtle orbital perturbations, akin to distant landmasses observed from afar. **In simple terms:** Invisible forces reveal themselves via indirect effects. Key Takeaway Astronomical inference relies on observing perturbations. Themes astronomy gravity prediction historical discovery scientific method Mood curious analytical awe Type metaphor explanatory When to use this quote - planetary discovery research - educational lectures on orbital mechanics - science communication - space mission planning Key Concepts Newtonian mechanics celestial dynamics observational inference Practical Applications - modeling unseen bodies from orbital data - teaching indirect detection techniques Questions to Reflect On - What does this analogy tell us about scientific inference? - How can indirect evidence reshape our understanding of the cosmos? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Analysis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analysis/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Demonstration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonstration/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Neptune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neptune/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Spain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spain/) ## Related quotes > [ “This success permits us to hope that after thirty or forty years of observation on the new Planet \[Neptune\], we may employ it, in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urbain-le-verrier/this-success-permits-us-to-hope-that-after-thirty-or-forty-years-of/) Urbain Le Verrier > [The discovery in 1846 of the planet Neptune was a dramatic and spectacular achievement of mathematical astronomy. The very existence of this new member…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-newman/the-discovery-in-1846-of-the-planet-neptune-was-a-dramatic-and/) [James R Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-r-newman/) > [ Sir,-The Planet \[Neptune\] whose position you marked out actually exists. On the day on which your letter reached me, I found a star of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-gottfried-galle/sir-the-planet-neptune-whose-position-you-marked-out-actually-exists/) Johann Gottfried Galle > [When you have a movie about people landing from planet Neptune, you suspend disbelief. I totally get it. But I like doing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-gluck/when-you-have-a-movie-about-people-landing-from-planet-neptune-you/) [Will Gluck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-gluck/) > [ Le Verrier-without leaving his study, without even looking at the sky-had found the unknown planet \[Neptune\] solely by mathematical calculation, and, as it were,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-flammarion/le-verrier-without-leaving-his-study-without-even-looking-at-the-sky/) [Camille Flammarion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-flammarion/) > [ This success permits us to hope that after thirty or forty years of observation on the new Planet \[Neptune\], we may employ it, in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urbain-le-verrier/this-success-permits-us-to-hope-that-after-thirty-or-forty-years-of-2/) Urbain Le Verrier > [“All I had to do was die a little, and you get a new planet!" I expected her to laugh, or at least smile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/all-i-had-to-do-was-die-a-little-and-you-get-a-new-planet-i-expected/) [Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/) > [ To a traveler paying his first visit, \[San Francisco\] has the interest of a new planet. It ignores the meteorological laws which govern the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fitz-hugh-ludlow/to-a-traveler-paying-his-first-visit-san-francisco-has-the-interest/) [Fitz Hugh Ludlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fitz-hugh-ludlow/) > [If everybody on the planet today had the same standard of living as the average European or American, we would need three new planets.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/if-everybody-on-the-planet-today-had-the-same-standard-of-living-as/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“If we could actually see the current digital work world encircling us, it would leave us breathless, given its reach, depth and moving parts;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-miller/if-we-could-actually-see-the-current-digital-work-world-encircling-us/) [Paul Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-miller/) > [No new creation or destruction of matter is within the reach of chemical agency. We might as well attempt to introduce a new planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dalton/no-new-creation-or-destruction-of-matter-is-within-the-reach-of/) [John Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dalton/) > [“Uncle Yuichi: Something's moving up there? Hmm... I don't see anything. It was probably a satelite. Punpun (with gums flapping): Could I have discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inio-asano/uncle-yuichi-something-s-moving-up-there-hmm-i-don-t-see-anything-it/) [Inio Asano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inio-asano/) > [Thus will the fondest dream of Phallic science be realized: a pristine new planet populated entirely by little boy clones of great scientific entrepreneurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/thus-will-the-fondest-dream-of-phallic-science-be-realized-a-pristine/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [If it's a new planet, sign me up. I'm tired of driving around the block, boldly going where hundreds have gone before in orbit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-it-s-a-new-planet-sign-me-up-i-m-tired-of-driving-around-the-block/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I don't think discovery of a new planet has a huge meaning for children now, but what it means is the world they're growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-seager/i-don-t-think-discovery-of-a-new-planet-has-a-huge-meaning-for/) [Sara Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-seager/) ## More by William Herschel > [The heavens are now seen to resemble a luxuriant garden, which contains the greatest variety of productions, in different flourishing beds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/the-heavens-are-now-seen-to-resemble-a-luxuriant-garden-which/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [That planet has a considerable but moderate atmosphere. So that the inhabitants probably enjoy a situation in many respects similar to ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/that-planet-has-a-considerable-but-moderate-atmosphere-so-that-the/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [Since stars appear to be suns, and suns, according to the common opinion, are bodies that serve to enlighten, warm, and sustain a system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/since-stars-appear-to-be-suns-and-suns-according-to-the-common/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [The phenomena of nature, especially those that fall under the inspection of the astronomer, are to be viewed, not only with the usual attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/the-phenomena-of-nature-especially-those-that-fall-under-the/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [We need not hesitate to admit that the Sun is richly stored with inhabitants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/we-need-not-hesitate-to-admit-that-the-sun-is-richly-stored-with/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [He broke through the barriers of the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/he-broke-through-the-barriers-of-the-skies/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [The undevout astronomer must be mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/the-undevout-astronomer-must-be-mad/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [I have tried to improve telescopes and practiced continually to see with them. These instruments have play'd me so many tricks that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/i-have-tried-to-improve-telescopes-and-practiced-continually-to-see/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [I have looked further into space than ever human being did before me. I have observed stars of which the light, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/i-have-looked-further-into-space-than-ever-human-being-did-before-me/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [The difference of the degrees in which the individuals of a great community enjoy the good things of life has been a theme of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/the-difference-of-the-degrees-in-which-the-individuals-of-a-great/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [ ... finding that in \[the Moon\] there is a provision of light and heat; also in appearance, a soil proper for habitation fully as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/finding-that-in-the-moon-there-is-a-provision-of-light-and-heat-also/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [“I have looked further into space than ever human being did before me. I have observed stars of which the light, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/i-have-looked-further-into-space-than-ever-human-being-did-before-me-2/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/seeing-is-in-some-respect-an-art-which-must-be-learnt/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [By reflecting a little on this subject I am almost convinced that those numberless small Circuses we see on the moon are the works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/by-reflecting-a-little-on-this-subject-i-am-almost-convinced-that/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) > [ “ Coelorum perrupit claustra. He broke through the barriers of the skies. \[ Herschel's epitaph \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-herschel/coelorum-perrupit-claustra-he-broke-through-the-barriers-of-the-skies/) [William Herschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) [Explore all 19 William Herschel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-herschel/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We see it [the as-yet unseen, probable new planet, Neptune] as Columbus saw America from the coast of Spain. 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