On the deflection of a light ray from its rectilinear motion, by the attraction of a celestial body at which it nearly passes by.
By Joh. Soldner.
Berlin, March 1801.
At the current, so much perfected state of practical astronomy, it becomes more necessary to develop from the theory (that is from the general properties and interactions of matter) all circumstances that can have an influence on a celestial body: to take advantage from a good observation, as much as it can give.
Although it is true that we can become aware of considerable deviations from a taken rule by observation and by chance: as it was the case with the aberration of light. Yet deviations can exist which are so small, so that it is hard to decide whether they are true deviations or observational errors. Also deviations can exist, which are indeed considerable — but if they are combined with quantities whose determination
