James Challis

James Challis ( born December 12, 1803 in Braintree, Essex, † December 3, 1882 in Cambridge ) was an English astronomer.

James Challis studied at Cambridge University, and was designed by 1836 bis 1878/79 Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy, and until 1861 director of the observatory Cambridge Observatory.

He has published 12 volumes meridian observations as well as numerous observations of minor planets and comets. In August 1846, he succeeded in systematically searching for the one calculated by John Couch Adams planet Neptune beyond the orbit of Uranus to observe the same twice, but does not detect this, even before the discovery by the German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle. 1859-1876, he also developed a mechanical explanation of gravitation.