The Successes of Newtonian Gravity

1
The Successesof Newtonian Gravity

2
On the Positive Side

• The discovery of Uranus (but)
• Halleys comet
• The prediction of Neptune
• The prediction of Pluto (well,)
• Letting Newton drive

3
Adams Leverrier
4
Success!
5
Pluto
6
A Planet or Not?
7
Planets or Not?
8
Sednas Orbit
9
Serendipity in Astronomy

• The Moon of Pluto (Charon)
• found by chance
• gives us Plutos mass
• found at a time when eclipses were due
• allows us to map Plutos surface
• found at a time when Pluto had an atmosphere

10
Remarkably Lucky
11
Many Objects Have Moons!
12
Letting Newton Drive