In Search of Planet Vulcan

This book explores the fascinating quest for the phantom planet Vulcan, blending history, science, and adventure into a captivating narrative.

Presented for the first time in popular form, In Search of Planet Vulcan recounts the intriguing true story behind the quest for the elusive planet Vulcan. Much like the legendary lost continent of Atlantis, Vulcan has captivated the imaginations of both scientists and dreamers alike, prompting them to seek evidence that this celestial body is more than mere myth. Historians of astronomy, Richard Baum and William Sheehan, meticulously sift through forgotten letters and journals to unravel this captivating narrative, which begins against the tumultuous backdrop of early nineteenth-century war and revolution.

The tale unfolds with the revelations of Le Verrier, the commanding Director of the Paris Observatory, who identified an anomaly in the motion of Mercury that hinted at the existence of a planet nestled closer to the Sun. Remarkably, this prediction was validated by an obscure French country doctor wielding nothing more than a homemade telescope. However, the planet, named after the Roman god of fire, was soon lost to the cosmos, yet it continued to reemerge, teasing even the most skeptical astronomers about its possible existence.

In Search of Planet Vulcan follows the fervent pursuits of Le Verrier and his contemporaries as they strive to validate Newton's Laws and secure their legacies. The narrative crescendos to an exhilarating climax in America's Wild West, where determined astronomers face the elements and local tribes in a dramatic showdown, gathering with renowned figures of their time for the grand solar eclipse that could finally confirm Vulcan's existence.