<P> In retrospect , after it was discovered it turned out it had been observed many times before but not recognized , and there were others who made various calculations about its location , which did not lead to its observation . By 1847 the planet Uranus had completed nearly one full orbit since its discovery by William Herschel in 1781 , and astronomers had detected a series of irregularities in its path that could not be entirely explained by Newton 's law of gravitation . These irregularities could , however , be resolved if the gravity of a farther , unknown planet were disturbing its path around the Sun . In 1845 astronomers Urbain Le Verrier in Paris and John Couch Adams in Cambridge separately began calculations to determine the nature and position of such a planet . Le Verrier 's success also led to a tense international dispute over priority , because shortly after the discovery George Airy , at the time British Astronomer Royal , announced that Adams had also predicted the discovery of the planet . Nevertheless , the Royal Society awarded Le Verrier the Copley medal in 1846 for his achievement , without mention of Adams . </P>
<P> In retrospect , after it was discovered it turned out it had been observed many times before but not recognized , and there were others who made various calculations about its location , which did not lead to its observation . By 1847 the planet Uranus had completed nearly one full orbit since its discovery by William Herschel in 1781 , and astronomers had detected a series of irregularities in its path that could not be entirely explained by Newton 's law of gravitation . These irregularities could , however , be resolved if the gravity of a farther , unknown planet were disturbing its path around the Sun . In 1845 astronomers Urbain Le Verrier in Paris and John Couch Adams in Cambridge separately began calculations to determine the nature and position of such a planet . Le Verrier 's success also led to a tense international dispute over priority , because shortly after the discovery George Airy , at the time British Astronomer Royal , announced that Adams had also predicted the discovery of the planet . Nevertheless , the Royal Society awarded Le Verrier the Copley medal in 1846 for his achievement , without mention of Adams . </P>
neptune was discovered by irregularities in the orbit of
neptune was discovered by irregularities in the orbit of
Uranus
Uranus