NEWLY DISCOVERED PLANET TO BE NAMED “NEPTUNE”

neptune-mh.jpgLe Verrier’s Planet Finally Gets a Name!

National Intelligencer, Washington, DC
Thursday, March 4, 1847

The “newest” member of the Solar System, a body discovered by Frenchman Urbain Le Verrier, is finally named. A short front page report announces the historic news: “THE NEW PLANET.–The Bureau of Longitudes of Paris has come to an agreement with the principal astronomers of Europe, as Gausz, Encke, Strure, and Herschel, to give the name of NEPTUNE to the new planet discovered under the indications of M. Le Verrier. The planet will be denoted on the astronomical chart by the sign of a trident.” Le Verrier predicted the location of such a planet in 1846, using only mathematics and close observations of the orbit of Uranus.

Also, a report that $3,000,000 was to be earmarked to enable President Polk to make a treaty with Mexico ending the Mexican War includes lengthy debate in the United States Senate as well as the printing of the Act to appropriate the funding. This meaty issue also contains the latest war news from the U.S. troops still fighting in Mexico.

4 pp., complete and in very good condition. Bit of staining and wear on one fold, and a few minor tape mends.

$175

neptune-polk-proc.jpgneptune-report.jpg

Posted by mmitchell | Filed Under All Historic Newspapers, American Expansion