Page 311 - 89 history of astronomy_opt

In 1787 Herschel discovered two satel-
lites, both revolving in nearly the same plane,
ˆ
inclined 80A to the ecliptic, and the motion
of both was retrograde.
In 1772, before Herschel’s discovery, Bode[1]
had discovered a curious arbitrary law of
planetary distances. Opposite each planet’s
name write the figure 4; and, in succession,
add the numbers 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, etc.,
311