John Couch Adams was an eminent English mathematician and astronomer, born on June 5, 1819, in Laneast, Cornwall, United Kingdom. He is primarily known for his groundbreaking contributions to celestial mechanics and specifically for his prediction and discovery of the planet Neptune.
Adams attended the University of Cambridge, where he excelled in mathematics and was appointed as a Fellow of St. John's College. His interest in astronomy led him to independently study the gravitational disturbances of Uranus, leading him to propose the existence of an undiscovered planet beyond it. He calculated the approximate position of this hypothetical planet and sent his findings to the renowned Cambridge Observatory.
Although initially overlooked, Adams' work eventually caught the attention of astronomer George Airy, who tasked James Challis with conducting a search for the predicted planet. Coincidentally, during the ongoing search, French astronomer Urbain Le Verrier made a similar prediction based on different calculations. Ultimately, Adams' calculations were proven correct when Neptune was observed and identified in September 1846.
Adams' discovery of Neptune established his reputation as a great mathematical astronomer. He went on to hold the position of Director of the Cambridge Observatory, where he made numerous valuable contributions to celestial mechanics, tides, and the perturbation of comets. He received numerous accolades for his work, including serving as the President of the Royal Astronomical Society. John Couch Adams passed away on January 21, 1892, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the field of astrophysics.
