James Challis
James Challis | |
---|---|
Born | Braintree, Essex, England | 12 December 1803
Died | 3 December 1882 Cambridge, England | (aged 78)
Known for | Not discovering Neptune |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Astronomy |
Institutions | Cambridge Observatory |
James Challis FRS (12 December 1803 – 3 December 1882) was an English clergyman, physicist and astronomer. Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy and the director of the Cambridge Observatory, he investigated a wide range of physical phenomena though made few lasting contributions outside astronomy. He is best remembered for his missed opportunity to discover the planet Neptune in 1846.
Early life
Challis was born in
Plumian professor
In 1836, he became director of the Cambridge Observatory and Plumian Professor, holding the latter post until his death. He lectured in all areas of
Challis was referee for Thomson and for Stokes in their respective applications for chairs at the
Cambridge Observatory
Challis succeeded
He and his wife lived at the observatory as genial hosts for 25 years, though Challis once left his wife to guard an intruder while he summoned assistance. Challis eventually resigned the observatory post because of the chronic stress that his inability to keep up with processing new astronomical observations was causing him. His predecessor Airy had taken a more relaxed attitude. He was succeeded by Adams though he maintained his professorship until his death.[2]
The search for the eighth planet
In 1846, Airy finally persuaded a skeptical Challis to join in the search for an eighth planet in the Solar System. Adams had predicted the location of such a planet as early as 1844, based on irregularities in the orbit of Uranus. Adams failed to promote his prediction successfully and there was little enthusiasm for a systematic search of the heavens until Airy's intervention. Challis finally began his, somewhat reluctant, search in July 1846, unaware that Frenchman Urbain Le Verrier had independently made an identical prediction. German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle, assisted by Heinrich Louis d'Arrest, finally confirmed Le Verrier's prediction on 23 September. The planet was named "Neptune". It soon became apparent from Challis's notebooks that he had observed Neptune twice, a month earlier, failing to make the identification through lack of diligence and a current star chart.[2]
Challis was full of remorse but blamed his neglect on the pressing business of catching up on the backlog of astronomical observations from the observatory. As he reflected in a letter to Airy of 12 October 1846:[4]
I have been greatly mortified to find that my observations would have shewn me the planet in the early part of August if I had only discussed them. ... I delayed doing this ... chiefly because I was making a grand effort to reduce the vast numbers of comet observations which I have accumulated and this occupied the whole of my time.
Physicist
Challis also worked in
Theological views
Challis took issue with Charles Wycliffe Goodwin's views on Genesis expressed in Essays and Reviews (1860). Challis saw Genesis as an "antecedent plan" for creation, rather than a literal chronology, and argued that the biblical account could be reconciled with the geological record.[8] He went on to interpret the word "law", as used in a spiritual sense by Saint Paul, in the sense of scientific law.[2][9]
Assessment
Challis published 225 papers in mathematics, physics and astronomy.[10] He was re-elected fellow of Trinity in 1870. He died in Cambridge and was buried beside his wife in Mill Road Cemetery, Cambridge. His wealth when he died was £781 (equivalent to £83,700 in 2021).[2]
Despite the embarrassment over Neptune, Challis did make genuine contributions to astronomy. His blend of theology and science was in the spirit of Stokes, and his search for a unified theory akin to the endeavours of Thomson and Maxwell. However, despite his tenacity in advocating his physical and theological theories, they had little impact,[2] and in fact Richard Carrington credited him as his professor with inspiring his decision to pursue astronomy rather than become a clergyman.[11] Olin J. Eggen claimed that "At a later time, or under less amiable circumstances, he would have been branded a charlatan. He would now be as forgotten as his peculiar ideas had not the events surrounding the discovery of Neptune in 1845 given him a genuine opportunity for scientific immortality. But he fumbled it."[12]
Honours and memorials
- Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, (1836);[2]
- Fellow of the Royal Society, (1848);[2]
- Bronze medal at The Great Exhibition for his transit-reducer, (1851).[2]
References
- ^ "James Challis (CHLS821J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Clerke (2006)
- Stokes, Sir George Gabriel, first baronet', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
- ^ Eggen (1970–1981) p.187
- Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, 2.547
- ^ Challis (1869)
- ^ Taylor, W. B. (1876), "Kinetic Theories of Gravitation", Smithsonian Report, 205–282
- ^ Challis (1861)
- ^ Challis (1871)
- ^ [Anon.] (2001)
- ISBN 978-0-691-12660-9
- ^ Eggen (1970–1981) p.186
- ISBN 0-936389-27-3.
Bibliography
- Challis, J. (1861) Creation in Plan and Progress
- Challis, J. (1869). Notes on the Principles of Pure and Applied Calculation; and Applications of Mathematical Principles to Theories of the Physical Forces. Cambridge: Deighton, Bell and Co.
- Challis, J. (1871) A Translation of the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans
- Challis, J. (1873) An Essay on the Mathematical Principles of Physics
- Challis, J. (1875) Remarks on the Cambridge Mathematical Studies
- Challis, J. (1879) Lectures on Practical Astronomy and Astronomical Instruments
- Challis, J. (1880) Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality
Obituary
- J. W. L. G. (1882–83) "James Challis" Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 43: 160–79
About Challis
- [Anon.] (2001) "Challis, James", Encyclopædia Britannica, CDROM Deluxe edition
- Clerke, A. M. (2006) "Challis, James (1803–1882)", rev. David B. Wilson, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, online edn, Oct 2006, accessed 17 September 2007 (subscription or UK public library membershiprequired)
- )
- Standage, Tom (2000). The Neptune File: Planet Detectives and the Discovery of Worlds Unseen. London: ISBN 0-7139-9472-X.