Galileo Discovered Neptune! (Maybe)

New Theory: Galileo Discovered Neptune

History books tell us that the planet Neptune was found in the mid-1800s after years of speculation and search. But in 1613, more than two centuries before Neptune was officially discovered, Galileo Galilei knew he had found it, according to a new theory by University of Melbourne physicist David Jamieson.

This is based on some notes from one of Galileo's journals. He noted that Neptune, which we know is a planet but he then thought was a star, had moved in position relative to another star.
That plus a dot placed in his sketch of his observation of the skies on January 6.


Not a huge discovery, or even a conclusive one. But it is interesting, when you go back over the notes of these fellows.

Galileo made his discoveries as a result of his obsession with symmetry. He is so on the money as a result
What he did is beyond any other scientist even today methinks, given his environments levels of uderstandings

Also I'd say he did know it was Neptune as he was able to distinguish moving planets in our solar system to set stars.

[edit on 10-7-2009 by zazzafrazz]