Late in the eighteenth century, a mathematical equation, now called the Titius-Bode law, was formalized to figure out the distance between major planets.
It worked like this.
This equation shows a remarkably accurate prediction of planets’ distance from the Sun.
In fact, Uranus was discovered after the equation was published, right where it should have been.
Between Mars and Jupiter, a planet seemed to be missing, so scientists went looking for it and found Ceres, and then the rest of the asteroid belt.
Ceres was discovered on 1 January 1801, by Italian Astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi.
The discovery of Neptune and Pluto, however, proved that the Titius-Bode law was nothing more than a mathematical oddity.
According to the law, Neptune should have been 38.8 AUs from the sun; it is 30. Pluto should be 77.2 AUs, but it is only 39.
While the Titius-Bode law is no longer considered accurate, it was useful for a for a short time.
