About the naming of asteroids.
Showing 1–20 of 60 items
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.
About the naming of asteroids.
Suggests the name 'Clio' for asteroid No. 59. Gives a list of proposed names for asteroids.
Found some old packets of seeds of Protea yesterday and wonders if he would like them to be sown to see if they would germinate. Comments on some of the plants in his garden. Tried some Peruvian potatoes.
Returns the petitions. Regarding the one for the maintenance of the church rates. Has qualms about signing this as he does not entirely agree with some of the statements.
Has got his paper on shooting stars. Comments on JL's theories of meteors. Pleased to hear a favorable account of Montague Lubbock.
Does not possess the Transactions of the Astronomical Society, which contains JL's paper. Had to limit the scope of his article so could not deal with the point mentioned in JL's letter. Comments on P. S. Laplace's formula.
About the barometric formula for the measurement of heights.
Returns a paper of Mr. Stobart, which deals with astronomical knowledge of the early Egyptians.
Thanks for the receipt of the Radcliffe catalogue of stars, but wishes observations had been equatorial rather than circumpolar.
Suggests an observational program for RM's newly purchased transit circle [see RM's 1861-10-21].
Not aware of any changes in trust fund status of T. H. Hollier since Jan. 1860.
Grateful for JL's support of JH's son [?] for R.A.S. membership, but JH advised [son] not to apply until [son] had made some significant contribution to astronomy worthy of membership. [JH annotation: How different from today, when election is so easy.]
Explains JH's objections to JL's shadow-extinction hypothesis of meteors. Believes that several sorts of meteors—magnetoelectric, stony, vaporous, etc.—exist.
Recalls mutual friends, Georges Cuvier and Mary Somerville. Gratitude for JP's kindness in Rome to JH's daughter, Margaret Louisa, now deceased. Asks JP to assist newlyweds David and Mary Power, who are caught in Rome by David's failing health and need advice on medical treatment. [Annotation by Constance Anne (Herschel) Lubbock identifies couple as David Power and bride Mary Lipscompe. David died soon after, and his widow married JH's son John.]
Alexander S. Herschel's education goals and job prospects. [Lucy?] has published 'Marshall's Essays.' Question about investments.
AH's college exams. Prefers that AH come home, rather than JH coming to Clapham and using Charles Pritchard's astronomy instruments. Describes 'revolving reflector' that JH designed for studying star spectra. Margaret and Duncan Stewart are coming to Clapham tomorrow for races. Many visitors at Collingwood.
Asks GA many questions about his magnetical explanation [see GA's 1861-4-22].
Thanks for the palladium [see GS's 1861-3-22].
Asks R.S.L. Council to request Colonial Office to provide official recommendation to authorities in Malta for William Lassell, going there to observe.
Thanks SW for a copy of the reviews of JH's Meteorology and Physical Geography. Comments on related matters such as importing English birds into Australia, observations made by Alexander von Humboldt, and catching specimens behind a sailing ship.