GREAT ASTRONOMERS.
j66
This was regarded as a great scientific triumph. Our belief in the universality of the law of gravitation would, in fact, have been seriously challenged unless some explanation of the lunar acceleration had been forthcoming. For about fifty years no one questioned the truth
of Laplace's investigation.
"When a mathematician
of his
eminence had rendered an explanation of the remarkable which seemed so complete, it is not
facts of observation
surprising that there should have been but little temptation to doubt it. On undertaking a new calculation of the same question, Professor
pursued
Adams found
that Laplace had not
this approximation sufficiently far,
and that con-
sequently there was a considerable error in the result of Adams, it must be observed, did not impugn
his analysis.
the value of the lunar acceleration which Halley had deduced from the observations, but what he did show was,
by which Laplace thought he had provided an explanation of this acceleration was erroneous. that the calculation
Adams, in fact, proved that the planetary influence which Laplace had detected only possessed about half the efficiency w
which the great French mathematician had it. There were not wanting illustrious ma-
attributed to
thematicians of
Laplace.
who came forward
to defend the calculations
They computed the question anew and
arrived at results practically coincident with those he had given. On the other hand certain distinguished
mathematicians at home and abroad verified the results of
Adams.
The
issue
was merely a mathematical
It had only one correct solution. Gradually that those who opposed Adams presented a
different solutions, all of
it
one.
appeared
number
them discordant with
his,
of
and,