Leverrier independently began researching the same theory—the possibility of
another planet influencing Uranus’s orbit—approximately one year after Adams’s cal-
culations were complete and turned away by Challis. After submitting his third letter
to the Académie des Sciences regarding this breakthrough, Leverrier became frustrat-
ed at the disinterest of astronomers to actually observe the heavens for this new plan-
et. In September 1846 Leverrier sent his predictions to a German astronomer and
acquaintance, Johann Galle, at the Berlin Observatory. Within a few hours on or
about September 24, Galle found Neptune with the aid of detailed star maps not far
from Leverrier’s predicted position. Despite the initial dispute between authorities in
England and France about who would receive credit due for the discovery of Neptune,
Adams and Leverrier became friends.
After its discovery in 1846, it was suggested that Neptune be named after the
Roman god of the sea. In the early 20th century, this name was confirmed after
astronomers learned of Neptune’s watery interior. Poseidon, the Greek counterpart of
Neptune, who is pictured as a bearded and majestic male holding a trident, was the
brother of Zeus (Jupiter) and Hades (Pluto). After defeating their father Cronos (Sat-
urn) in the Trojan War, the brothers divided the world into three parts. Zeus took com-Neptune
[492] THEASTROLOGYBOOK
An image from the sixteenth century of Neptune, Roman god of the sea, riding a whale.
Reproduced by permission of Fortean Picture Library.