Alexis Bouvard

Infobox Scientist
name = Alexis Bouvard
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caption = Alexis Bouvard
birth_date = June 27, 1767
birth_place = Contamines, France
death_date = June 7, 1843
death_place = Paris
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nationality = France
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field = astronomy
work_institutions = Paris Observatory
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Alexis Bouvard (June 27, 1767 – June 7, 1843) was a French astronomer. He is particularly noted for his careful observations of the irregularities in the motion of Uranus and his hypothesis of the existence of an eighth planet in the solar system.

Life

Born in Contamines, France, Bouvard's achievements included the discovery of eight comets and the compilation of astronomical tables of Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus. While the former two tables were eminently successful, the latter showed substantial discrepancies with subsequent observations. This led Bouvard to hypothesise the existence of an eighth planet responsible for the irregularities in Uranus' orbit. [Anon.] (2001)] The position of Neptune was subsequently calculated from Bouvard's observations, independently, by John Couch Adams and Urbain Le Verrier after his death.

Bouvard was director of the Paris Observatory.Fact|date=August 2007 He died in Paris.

Honours

*Member "Académie des sciences" (1803);
*Fellow of the Royal Society (1826);
*In Australia, a cape known as Cape Bouvard has been named after him when French sailors discovered Western Australia. Bouvard is also a small Australian city south of Perth on the coast.Fact|date=August 2007

References

Bibliography

* [Anon.] (2001) "Bouvard, Alexis", "Encyclopaedia Britannica", Deluxe CDROM edition