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THE NAMING OF NEPTUNE

2009; National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand; Volume: 12; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3724/sp.j.1440-2807.2009.01.06

1440-2807

Nicholas Kollerstrom,

Astro and Planetary Science

Le Verrier chose the name of Neptune immediately after hearing of the correctness of his prediction. This fact soon became obscured by François Arago's pledge made before the French Académie des Sciences, claiming that Le Verrier had entrusted him with the naming of the new planet. Then, British and German sources weighed in with differing names, and Britain's claim to co-prediction of the planet's position was expressed by their proposal of the name, 'Oceanus'. Eventually in February of 1847 Airy urged upon Le Verrier that the name he had originally proposed, namely 'Neptune', should be accepted, because it was the only one that could secure consensus.