Compliments WS on a written address. Describes how to set up a telescope to avoid unnecessary vibration; includes diagram.
Showing 61–80 of 181 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.
Compliments WS on a written address. Describes how to set up a telescope to avoid unnecessary vibration; includes diagram.
Sends apologies to William Lassell for omission of discovery credit.
JH's letter of recommendation for C. P. Smyth misdirected. Little time remains for nomination.
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.
Directs JH to inquire regarding a pension for John Russell. Note C. P. Smyth's use of Outlines Astr. Mentions Isaac Fletcher as a promising amateur astronomer.
Thomas Henderson discovered a comet on 2 December. Thanks JH for diagram of JH's comet-sweeping telescope.
Asks WS opinion of attaining a civil pension for N. R. Pogson in honor of his astronomical accomplishment.
Devises and suggests mode of micrometric measurement of angles.
Has heard WS is publishing an English translation of François Arago's astronomical writings. Urges against including Arago's lectures if the Italian translation is indicative of their level of accuracy. Lists numerous errors in that edition. [Marked 'not sent.' Note added to CDraft (RS:HS 25.13.13) states: 'A letter differently worded but noting some of these points, but not all (for particular reasons) if I remember right was sent.'
Comments on WS's publication on sidereal chromatics. Believes validity of doctrine of three primary colors proved.
Pleased with JH's Gamma Virginis results. Mr. Visconti made head of Military Geographical Institute at Naples.
Wants to know if JH has a larger telescope in operation; if so, will he confirm some observations. Asks JH to recommend an epoch.
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.
Will observe transit [of Mercury] hoping it will provide good meridian data. Encloses sketch of telescope in Bedford.
Suggests Mr. Rüppell apply to Council of R.A.S. for copy of medal. Mentions the head on the medal is [Isaac] Newton's, not William Herschel's.
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.
Mr. Stocken[?] has discovered a comet; have been unable to observe it due to poor weather.
Thanks JH for kindness to C. P. Smyth. Francis Baily re-elected president of R.A.S. W. S. Stratford prints a comet ephemeris.
Francis Beaufort to publish comet information; also wants JH's opinion as to what data should be sent to Cape Observatory. James South will lecture at Royal Institution. South's requests for several historical astronomical instruments refused.