The dispute between Carlini-Plana and Laplace on the theory of the moon (Q5956448)

The authors present the lunar theory of Laplace and the results of Carlini-Plana and Demoiseau on lunar tables based only on the law of universal gravity. The author also exposes the dispute between Laplace and Carlini-Plana on their methods for obtaining accurate lunar tables. The dispute was provoked by the awarding, in 1820, of a prize of the Académie des Sciences in Paris to F. Carlini and G. Plana for their method of construction of lunar tables. There are included excerpts from the letters exchanged between Carlini--Plana and Laplace. The paper contains a good bibliography.