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THE SATELLITE OF NEPTUNE
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much controversy, Arago in France claiming that, in the history of the affair, the name of Adams should not even be mentioned—the whole credit should go to Leverrier. This he did on the principle that it was not the person who first did a thing, but he who first published it, who should receive the credit. But the English claimed that, as Adams had actually preceded Leverrier and, if he had not printed his paper, had at least communicated it to public authorities, and had enabled Challis to see, although not to recognise, the planet, he should get his due share of credit. The whole question thus raised was one of honour, and subsequent astronomers have taken the very proper course of honouring both men all they could for so wonderful a work.

The Satellite of Neptune

Of course the newly found planet was observed by astronomers the world over. The result was that Mr. Lassell soon found that Neptune was accompanied by a satellite. This object was observed at the few observatories then possessing telescopes of sufficient power to make it out. Its time of revolution was found to be nearly six days.

The most curious feature of this satellite is that, contrary to the rule in the case of all the bodies of the solar system except Uranus, it moves from east toward west. In the case of Uranus we cannot consider the motion as being east or west, we should rather call it a north and south motion.

It would be very interesting to know whether the