Showing 1–20 of 65 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.
Looked for JS to talk with him about the secretaryship of the R.S.L., specifically discussing Charles Babbage's position. JH would prefer to have JS nominate Babbage.
Urges JS not to insist on a minor point of dispute about the title of a prospective member. JH feels it is inappropriate and will simply reflect against Charles Babbage, who proposed this person for membership.
Sends three chronometers set to Blackman St. time. Confirm them by a transit of Arcturus tomorrow, then return them to JS at Blackman St. Gives times for next rocket firings.
Coordinates plans for firing rockets at Blackman St. and Slough. Problems with chronometer errors. [JH annotation: Longitudes of Slough, Greenwich, and Blackman St. Will fire rockets next on 10 July.]
Concerning calculations for the parallax of Mars.
Appreciates JS's support of JH's mother at death of William Herschel. Invites JS to attend WH's remains to grave.
Asks WH to contribute to a fund to place a bust of Edward Troughton in Greenwich Observatory. Introduces himself to WH.
Will see JH on Friday; hoping for clear weather.
Discusses a paper JS is preparing for the Astronomical Society. Mentions his recent observations. Suspects the report of a comet is a hoax.
Gives directions for some time measurements involving rockets JS was planning in conjunction with JH. Mentions various double stars.
Discusses JS's efforts to reform the Nautical Almanac, including JS's Practical Observations on the Nautical Almanac. States that in this 'awful crisis' JS has no hostile feelings toward its superintendent, Thomas Young.
Requests corrections on a paper JS was publishing with JH. Urges JS to use less excessive language.
Discusses various apparent errors JS has been detecting in observing double stars with two different telescopes. Assures JH that no serious problems exist.
Reports on various observations of double stars that JS has made. Asks JH to check some of JS's results.
Reports on efforts to make measurements regarding 39 Boötes. Accepts JH's invitation for JS and wife to visit JH at Slough.
Discusses observations he had made of various stars, especially a star in Capricorn that William Herschel believed to be a gravitational double. Has observed 61 Cygni.
Discusses a paper by [Edward] Troughton and work that JH and JS were preparing. Remarks on observations of 61 Cygni and of Sigma Cassiopeia.
Writing in confidence, informs JH of a conversation with Humphry Davy concerning the appointment of assistants for John Pond, Astronomer Royal. Situation complicated by Pond's precarious health and the widespread belief that JH would be the appropriate successor to Pond.
Responding to JS's letter of 1823-12-19, advises caution in countervening John Pond's preferences in the appointment of Royal Observatory assistants. Were the post of Astronomer Royal to become vacant, JH would be 'anything but disinclined to offer myself for it,' but will not make a 'premature declaration' of his willingness to accept it.
If JS has not already passed on to Humphry Davy JH's letter of 1823-12-21, JS should do so immediately. If post of Astronomer Royal should become vacant, JH would be interested in it, but would not wish to work with Stephen Lee, then under consideration for appointment as head assistant at Greenwich.