Professor James Challis is a sort-of anti-hero of CUAS, the Cambridge University Astronomical Society. His notoriety originates in his failure to discover the planet Neptune. Le Verrier and John Couch Adams, independently predicted the position of Neptune. Le Verrier communicated his prediction to Galle at the Berlin Observatory, who eventually discovered Neptune. John Couch Adams approached George Airy (then Astronomer Royal), who wasn't interested. Airy did suggest that Adams approach the Director of the Cambridge Observatories: Prof. Challis.
Challis' methodical search of the predicted area, concentrated on objects which appeared to move between observing sessions. On more than one occasion, he noted that one of the brightest objects in the search area showed a disk. The story is outlined in a number of books, but legend "blames" the genial hospitality of Mrs Challis! One evening, Challis was dining at Trinity College with the Rev. William Kingsley of Sidney Sussex College, when he mentioned that he had seen a 'star' with a small disk. Kingsley suggested that he uses a higher magnification, so they decided to go up to the Observatory that evening. On arrival at the Observatories, they were invited in for tea by Mrs Challis. Neither dared to refuse this offer, which was rather unfortunate because it had clouded over when they came back outside!
Challis used the Northumberland Telescope in his search for Neptune. This is currently used by CUAS, and is probably the oldest telescope in the World which is still used on a regular basis.
St. Andrew's University has a page describing the history of the discovery of Neptune (and Pluto).
Also, the Winwaed Bookshop has a department devoted to Astronomy Books.
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