Mostly about periodic meteors [see RP's 1836-5-24], which JH observed in November 1835. JH offers some theoretical explanation for such a phenomenon.
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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.
Mostly about periodic meteors [see RP's 1836-5-24], which JH observed in November 1835. JH offers some theoretical explanation for such a phenomenon.
Wonders if people at the Cape observed the large fall of meteors during the night of 12 Nov. 1833; comments on this and gives theories of one professor. JH's name was used for newspaper article on discoveries on the moon; the person responsible was R. A. Locke. Encloses one of his own memoirs on the eclipse.
Acknowledges receipt of JH's letter of last August. Sends a copy of the American Almanac containing a catalogue of all the solar eclipses made by himself. Had a magnificent display of red aurora on 25 Jan.
Sends hourly meteorological observations for March, June and September. Comments on these and the climate of New England. Further details of the fall of meteors. Francis Baily has sent his article on the eclipse of 1836. Delivered JH's message to Nathaniel Bowditch. Other scientific news.
Sending hourly observations of 21 and 22 Dec. last. Comments on the weather during the winter. Performance of the shooting stars in November was poor. Hopes that JH will visit the United States on his way from Brazil to England.
Magnetic observations have been made regularly for a year and a half at the college at Cambridge by W. C. Bond. After JH's letter another set of instruments has been obtained to make another series of observations. Money from Hugh Smithson has been loaned to Arkansas. Comments on red auroral light seen. With the more frequent steamship service now hopes for quicker communications from JH.
Sends pamphlet for JH from Philadelphia. Author [E. P.] Mason died at the early age of 22. Believes he used a Herschelian telescope. Has been a mild winter in Boston.
JH's theory of meteors. Will convey to England RP's recent observations of eclipses. Received New York paper claiming discoveries in moon by JH. Invites American observers to join international system for simultaneous meteorological observations.
Just received RP's Dec. 1837 observations, forwarded from Cape of Good Hope. JH is now president of R.S.L. joint committee of Physics and Meteorology. Meteor shower of 10 Aug. 1839. Describes global magnetic survey conducted on Göttingen Mean Time. Hopes U.S. will join survey. [Enclosure: Printed notice of global magnetic survey, listing participating governments, purposes, and instruments.]
Acknowledges receipt of JH's Cape Results. Offers map of Massachusetts, constructed from RP's triangulation and astronomical observation. Zeal for astronomy is increasing in America. Reports discoveries by W. C. Bond and total solar eclipse of Nov. 1834.