Showing 61–80 of 221 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.
Returned from Hanover visit. Observed the star WS had discovered between 36 Ophiuchi and 30 Scorpii. Requests WS to observe a nebula in which JH has spotted a triple star. H. C. Schumacher is recovering from illness, while H. W. M. Olbers is very ill and not expected to recover.
Sends positions of Biela's Comet. Has much success with repolished telescope mirrors and collimator. Designs equatorial revolving roof for Cape observations; sends sketches. Compares WS's, W. R. Dawes's, and JH's observations of Gamma Virginis.
Is arranging a meeting with CB.
Writes to inform SW of the death of JH's mother.
Letter of condolence on death of JH's mother.
Makes arrangements for a visit to TH to see some of J. J. Lister's experiments. JH is sending TH some gelatinous matter that JH found in JH's telescope.
As no one seemed to be finding Biela's Comet, JH sat up several nights looking for it and now has located it.
Thanks MF for his kindness and attention to JH's mother in her final illness, and asks JG for his bill.
A circular letter to the electors of the University of Cambridge, asking for their support in the upcoming poll for representative to Parliament [see JH's 1832-11-30].
Thanks JH for paper on micrometrical measurement of double stars. Has already promised to vote for someone else for Boden Professorship [see JH's 1832-2-25].
Will offer himself as candidate for Professor of Natural Philosophy at University at Edinburgh. Asks JH for recommendation.
Supports WR's pursuit of Edinburgh professorship. Will not, however, write to the Lord Provost for WR. Feels public steps should be taken to fill position [see WR's 1832-11-8].
Introduces Edward Cooper, who has second largest telescope in the world [after JH]. Asks JH to assist Cooper. Discusses various astronomical issues and instruments.
Discusses the ale he sent. Hopes his hypothesis of the origin of the solar system did not offend JH.
Has no intentions of making solar volcano theory public. Offers one more possibility for its validity. Pleased that Caroline Herschel is well and remembers him.
Introduces JH to a Sanskrit professor. Has heard JH may travel to the Cape, but thinks family matters may deter him from going.
Must decline invitation to dinner due to poor health.
Aware that letter of 3 April did not reach the Herschels' home until after the engagement. Wishes to explain the apparent neglect.
Asks WS to forward enclosed note to Professor Schlegel. Disappointed that his celestial mechanics lecture [review] did not appear in last issue of the Quarterly Review.
Sends news of a cholera epidemic to help JH make his summer plans. Mentions a number of new cases from Altona, Hamburg, and Berlin. Asks JH not to spread information.