John Couch Adams used his mathematical skills and telescope late one night to discover the planet Neptune. By comparing star maps and journals, he noticed an unknown blue mass in the sky. Through careful tracking of this object over time and using his knowledge of planetary perturbations, he correctly deduced it was a new planet, Neptune. He then shared his findings with other professors, helping to confirm his important astronomical discovery through collaboration. His example shows that individuals can make significant scientific contributions through diligent work and reasoning skills.

1. PTUNE
Model by: Jerome McLeod
Group: McWindlardael
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2. Introduction
• Our Physics Genius: John Couch Adams
• The disputed discoverer of the planet
Neptune
• Credited for finding the planet
mathematically
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3. Late one night in his office
• The Couch after research about
perturbations of Uranus
• Broke out his “large Northumberland
Refractor... with a magnifying power [on] 170”
• Took on the skies as they stood in the sky
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5. In Response
• Compared star maps with Bessel’s Zone
and other journals concerning longitudes of
stars
• He was on to something
• The blue mass caught his attention
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6. Using His Knowledge...
• Started tracking Neptune
• Not informed of current research of
Neptune
• Reasoned with star locations and began
following Neptune often
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7. Sharing with the World
• Comparing notes with other professors,
• More information grew from the discovery
• Became aware of other Neptune research
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8. Why Do We Care?
• You can do what he did too!
• That’s a Y.O.U. you
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9. Couch’s Data Tracking Skills
• Relayed to him by Professor Challis
• Contained:
• Heliocentric Elements
• Longitude, Distance from the sun
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10. August, 2 1846
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11. How He did It
• Heliocentric Tracking
• Confirming evidence with mathematics
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