Le Verrier, Urbain Jean Joseph. COMPTES RENDUS HEBDOMADAIRES DES SEANCES DE L'ACADEMIE DES SCIENCES. Volumes 22 and 23. January – December, 1846. Paris: Bachelier, 1846. 4to, 2 volumes, containing all numbers. 1/4 cloth over marbled boards. ********** DISCOVERY OF NEPTUNE. FIRST EDITION in book form. With the encouragement of astronomer Francois Arago in 1845, Le Verrier began to observe anomalies in the movements of Uranus. In his "Recherches sur les Mouvements d'Uranus" published here in Volume 22, number 22, Le Verrier showed that the discrepancies in the orbit of Uranus could not be explained by the gravitational effects of known planets; instead, he believed these discrepancies were caused by the presence of an unknown planet within Uranus' orbit. In volume 23, number 9, Le Verrier announces the exact position of this unknown planet. He provides an approximate diameter and estimates that it is larger than Uranus. Similar results were found by English astronomer John Couch Adams two days after Le Verrier's discovery.In Volume 23, number 14, Le Verrier presents more information about the unnamed planet Neptune. He was nominated officer of the Legion of Honor for his discovery.

Several leaves with old library ink-stamps, mostly quite clean with some light foxing in limited places and a few minor stains.