Discusses various telescopes of his father and his father's [erroneous] announcement of his discovery of four additional satellites of Uranus.
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Discusses various telescopes of his father and his father's [erroneous] announcement of his discovery of four additional satellites of Uranus.
Suggests reasons for doubting the distribution of bright stars that RP had reported. Responds to RP's query concerning a statement in Outlines Ast. Encourages RP's hypothesizing on star distribution.
Thanks RP for sending RP's Other Worlds than Ours and supplies comments, some favorable, on numerous claims made therein, e.g., on RP's theory that Jupiter and Saturn are hot and to some degree luminous.
Assures RP that he is not upset at RP for publicly questioning some of JH's ideas. Continues discussion of point in perturbation theory for Uranus.
Continues to explain matters in perturbation theory. Stresses need for careful observations in solar eclipses. Doubts the existence of the hypothetical intermercurial planet Vulcan.
Approves RP's method of preparing isographic projection charts of the distribution of bright stars, noting that JH's gauges of the southern stars are incomplete.
Thanks RP for sending RP's Sun. Suggests a theory that the solar corona, rather than originating in the earth's atmosphere, is produced by reflection from meteoric dust. Informs RP that he has completed a catalogue of all observations of double stars.
Replies to RP's objections to his theory of the solar corona. Informs RP that William Herschel's larger telescopes were used as front focus. Suggests explanation of his father's disconfirmed discovery of four additional Uranian moons.
Admits that recent heliographs of the corona favor the eruption theory over JH's meteoric theory. Notes that this raises question of the nature of the photosphere. Cites recent results showing link between sunspot formation and terrestrial magnetic disturbances.
Reports finding, while preparing a star atlas, that bright stars appear to be very dense in a region associated with the Milky Way but centered on the greater Magellanic Cloud. Because of a coming lecture on stellar distribution, 'I ... am saturating myself with Herschelian astronomy.'
Reports on his studies of stellar and nebular distributions, discussing especially whether the Magellanic Clouds show a relation to the Milky Way stars. Speculates on whether recent studies on meteors bear on stellar formation and change. Stresses need for statistical studies in stellar astronomy.
Sends map from his new atlas. Reports finding a region rich in bright stars in the northern hemisphere but distinct from the Milky Way. States that in a Royal Institution lecture, he will claim that telescopes cannot reach the limits of the sidereal system and that it is far more complex than traditionally assumed.
Thanks JH for commentary on RP's Other Worlds than Ours. Responds to JH's comments, accepting most objections. Acknowledges his major debt to JH's writings.
Admits JH is correct in suggested correction of RP's statement regarding perturbations of Uranus. Suggests that JH urge astronomers to observe the solar corona carefully.
Admits his misstatement in RP's Other Worlds than Ours concerning perturbation of outer planets. Shares JH's doubts about existence of Vulcan. Speculates on the extent of meteoric material in the solar system. Comments negatively on J. Norman Lockyer's views on meteors.
Asks JH's advice on whether a method devised by RP of charting bright stars in isographic projections based on star gauges seems best. Describes the method and urges that the charts will produce useful suggestions about the distribution of stars.
Thanks JH for advice on planned chart; explains method of dealing with unguaged areas. RP has adopted a somewhat different method of charting.
Has sent JH a copy of his new book [The Sun].
Raises objections to JH's theory of the solar corona. Discusses possible existence of extensive meteoric dust in the solar system. Requests permission to dedicate a book on sidereal astronomy to JH. Asks JH whether his father in later years always used a front focus for his large telescopes and whether he saw the supposed four additional Uranian satellites with his 40-foot reflector.
Discusses JH's response to his comments on JH's theory of the solar corona. Discusses great difficulty of writing his planned book on sidereal astronomy.