Pleased with the observations and astronomical literature JH received from FS; JH is packing up for the return to England; comments on causes of variations in stellar magnitude and several other astronomical topics.
Showing 1–11 of 11 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.
Pleased with the observations and astronomical literature JH received from FS; JH is packing up for the return to England; comments on causes of variations in stellar magnitude and several other astronomical topics.
Due to his impending departure from the Cape he has had little opportunity of seeing DL's son George. Does not think he will be in a position to write a popular article on his work in the Southern Hemisphere yet awhile. Several errors in his Treatise Astr., which he would like to correct.
Will not be time to take the zenith sector to Klypfonteyn before JH's departure. Must finish work with the pendulum as it has to be returned to Francis Baily via JH. Will ride over on Sunday morning.
Intended calling on JH today but legs and feet were too swollen. Has postponed his journey to Klypfonteyn until the first week in March, to make some alterations to the instrument. Is glad JH will visit the mountains with him. Believes the Thalia is about to sail soon. Formalhoet is now useless at noon.
Urges against carrying up Table Mountain the zenith sector sent to TM to check N. L. Lacaille's measurement of a degree of terrestrial longitude. Comments on JH's skill with precision instruments.
Inviting the Herschels to dinner on Friday or Saturday.
Sends latest publications. Has received highly surprizing letter on meteors by Mr. Wood. Discusses 'famous apparitions.'
JH, in preparing to leave Cape, thanks WS for having sent Nautical Almanacs to him there. Discusses motions of a comet appearing to move whimsically, the periodical star alpha Hydrae, other stars, and the re-discovery of Saturn's sixth satellite.
Received meteorite specimen. Michael Faraday will conduct analysis. Admiralty agrees to give TM an assistant. Finds a theodolite telescope for Cape Observatory.
Presents, in response to a memorandum from JB, JH's views on such matters as the administration, staffing, and funding of the Government Free Schools at the Cape of Good Hope.
Thanks JH for his long and insightful memorandum of 1838-2-17 on the system of Government Free Schools at the Cape of Good Hope. Accepts many of JH's ideas and requests that JH, after returning to England, present JH's ideas to Lord Glenelg.