Has received several letters from German astronomers on U. J. J. Leverrier's suggestions for the re-naming of the asteroids. Comments on this. Is preparing a report for the R.A.S. and would like to hear JH's views on the subject.
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The Sir John Herschel Collection
The preparation of the print Calendar of the Correspondence of Sir John Herschel (Michael J. Crowe ed., David R. Dyck and James J. Kevin assoc. eds, Cambridge, England: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1998, viii + 828 pp) which was funded by the National Science Foundation, took ten years. It was accomplished by a team of seventeen professors, visiting scholars, graduate students, advanced undergraduates, and staff working at the University of Notre Dame.
The first online version of Calendar was created in 2009 by Dr Marvin Bolt and Steven Lucy, working at the Webster Institute of the Adler Planetarium, and it is that data that has now been reformatted for incorporation into Ɛpsilon.
Further information about Herschel, his correspondence, and the editorial method is available online here: http://historydb.adlerplanetarium.org/herschel/?p=intro
No texts of Herschel’s letters are currently available through Ɛpsilon.
Has received several letters from German astronomers on U. J. J. Leverrier's suggestions for the re-naming of the asteroids. Comments on this. Is preparing a report for the R.A.S. and would like to hear JH's views on the subject.
Is very pleased he agrees with the present system of naming the asteroids; so does G. B. Airy. George Bishop died yesterday, and the Observatory is now in the hands of Bishop's son.
Sends his calculation of the number of days from the commencement of the Julian period to 1 Jan. 1801; the result agrees with that of JH.
Father is unable to write so he has to thank him for his letter and the offer of Leucadendron seeds. Will try some experiments with them. Comments on some of C. R. Darwin's theories. Has he tried the Peruvian potato experiment? Does not remember a Camellia fruiting.
Regrets delay in paying JH's expenses for visitation of Royal Observatory.
Sends some memoirs to JH. Is keeping the most recent ones. Has always cited JH in his works. Requests JH's critique of AP's work on photo-electric images. Leaves London in an hour and regrets not having met JH.
Important office in French Institute has been passed on to MS. Compliments JH and many other members of R.S.L., and suggests exchange of ideas, asking JH for delivery of latest edition of JH's astronomy text, discusses idea of heat as motion, and other concepts. Expresses high scientific aspirations.
Observes and measures sunspots. Takes spectrum of solar photosphere; detects sodium and magnesium absorption lines. Pleased with Alexander Herschel's work on the solar spectrum; wishes he would begin work on stellar spectra.
Regrets missing JH's visit. W. H. Smyth having trouble walking.
Is sending a book of travels by Mr. Tyler, which gives an account of the Mexican stone and flint implements. Alexander Herschel called. The latter's experiments with hydrogen are useful.
Will be leaving for America shortly so regrets he will be unable to visit him. Has happy memories of his interview at Greenwich.
Gives diameter of the sun's image. Used an ordinary eye-piece. There must be some mistake about the penumbra. It is possible now to take daily records of the surface of the sun.