How was Neptune discovered?
A) accidentally, by an astronomer taking photographs for an all-sky survey
B) accidentally, by an astronomer studying the sky visually through a telescope
C) by a careful application of Newton's laws to the somewhat irregular motions of Uranus
D) by a careful search with the Hubble Space Telescope

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Neptune was discovered due to the application of Newton's laws of motion and gravitation to the observed irregularities in the orbit of Uranus. Mathematicians and astronomers, notably Urbain Le Verrier and John Couch Adams, independently calculated the position of Neptune, leading to its discovery through telescopic observation in 1846.

How Was Neptune Discovered