52 HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY. 



de 18 d^gres dans le lieu de 1'astre, a 1'une des epoques 

 ou 1'on pouvait le mieux repondre de sa position. The 

 uncertainty of the data caused an uncertainty of more 

 than eighteen degrees in the position of the planet, even at the 

 time when its situation was lest determined" Professor 

 Challis, therefore, proceeded like a sagacious as well as 

 brave general. He contemplated a long siege yet his 

 plan rendered ultimate success almost certain. Dr. Galle 

 took the citadel by storm yet he had no reason to ex- 

 pect so easy a conquest. His success must have as- 

 tonished himself as much as it did the world. 



Let us then be candid, and claim for astronomy no 

 more than is reasonably due. When in 1846 Le Terrier 

 announced the existence of a planet hitherto unseen, 

 when he assigned its exact position in the heavens, and 

 declared that it shone like a star of the eighth magnitude, 

 and with a perceptible disc, not an astronomer of France, 

 and scarce an astronomer in Europe, had sufficient faith, 

 in the prediction to prompt him to point his telescope 

 to the heavens. But when it was announced that the 

 planet had been seen at Berlin ; that it was found within 

 one degree of the computed place ; that it was indeed a 

 star of the eighth magnitude, and had a sensible disc, 

 then the enthusiasm not merely of the public generally, 

 but of astronomers also, was even more wonderful than 

 their former apathy. The sagacity of Le Yerrier was 

 felt to be almost superhuman. Language could hardly 

 be found strong enough to express the general admira- 

 tion. The praise then lavished upon ,Le Verrier was 



