Thanks WS on behalf of JH's brother-in-law [Peter Stewart?] for acting on [Peter Stewart's?] behalf to make him a member [?]. Comments on some comet sightings.
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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.
Thanks WS on behalf of JH's brother-in-law [Peter Stewart?] for acting on [Peter Stewart's?] behalf to make him a member [?]. Comments on some comet sightings.
Received WS's note about G. B. Airy's action regarding new warrant for Board of Visitors. Feels that Airy's cooperation is necessary in light of anomalous position of one board member. Recommends referring matter to Admiralty.
Suggests method to check the effectiveness of James Dunlop's work at Paramatta Obsrvatory..
Believes that Thomas Galloway's paper on solar motion deserves a medal.
Asks WS to take the chair at the next meeting of the R.A.S [probably concerning the Adams-Leverrier dispute].
Suggests John Lubbock's improvements in calculating planetary perturbations be discussed at a R.A.S. meeting. Plans to bring subject before the Council.
Asks WS if possible to enclose a note by Francis Beaufort to John Russell concerning request for pension for Thomas Maclear. Lays aside double star observations; continues work on orbit equation.
Skeptical of reports of seeing Jupiter's satellites with the naked eye.
Will miss R.A.S. meeting; asks WS to take chair. William Lassell announces discovery of Hyperion; believes he may have also observed an eighth satellite of Saturn.
Devises and suggests mode of micrometric measurement of angles.
Reaches conclusion about Gamma Virginis. States in regard to shape of orbit, 'We are all wrong.' Believes the orbit is less than 150 years. Claims that many errors exist in British measurements made between 1829 and 1834.
Sends calculations of Gamma Virginis and determines its eccentricity. Believes the orbit is highly elongated, like that of a comet.
Doubtful over WS's angle for Gamma Virginis; urges precision in measurement. Hopes to obtain moon map from R.A.S. during next visit to London. Unable to solve Aristarchus puzzle.
Sends JH's 1817 observations; cannot locate any he made in 1811. Tells WS Gamma Virginis measurements will take more time.
Sends paper by F. W. A. Argelander, which G. B. Airy wishes to have published. Revising chapter on perturbations in his Treatise Astr. Will include theory of motions of the apsides and the variations of the eccentricities.
Discusses the purchase price of Mme. Witte's lunar model.
Sends diagram of the 'little sweeper,' which is now at Hanover with 94-year-old Caroline Herschel.
Plans to calculate Gamma Virginis orbit. Received WS paper on astronomical observations. Suggests WS look for a house in Kent after learning plans to move near London.
Will review all Gamma Virginis observations before revising orbit. Catalogue of major nebulae complete; will work on minor nebulae next.
Will give lecture on moon in which he will discuss its composition, the craters Kepler and Gassendi, plus generalities.