{
  "id": 9321613,
  "title": "Neptune discovered on this date 180 years ago",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/neptune-discovered-on-this-date-180-years-ago",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-23T10:45:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "EarthSky",
    "slug": "earthsky",
    "url": "https://earthsky.org/human-world/today-in-science-discovery-of-neptune/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Neptune, the outermost major planet in our solar system, was discovered on September 23, 1846. It was the first planet to be found through mathematical analysis rather than direct observation. The discovery came after astronomers noticed that Uranus' orbit deviated from its predicted position according to Newton's law of universal gravitation. Two French and British astronomers, Urbain Le Verrier and John Couch Adams, independently used mathematics to calculate the possible position of a hypothetical eighth planet. Neither Le Verrier nor Adams knew of the other's calculations. Le Verrier sent his calculations to astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle at the Berlin Observatory, who, using Le Verrier's predictions, found Neptune on September 23, 1846. Neptune was located only 1° off Le Verrier's prediction and 12° off Adams' prediction. Both Le Verrier and Adams, as well as Galle who first observed Neptune through a telescope, are considered co-discoverers of the planet.",
  "summary": "Read the fascinating story of the discovery of Neptune - 180 years ago - on September 23, 1846. It was the 1st planet to be discovered by using mathematics. The post Neptune discovered on this date 180 years ago first appeared on EarthSky .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}