Would like his views on the correct definition of a billion, to settle an argument.
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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.
Would like his views on the correct definition of a billion, to settle an argument.
Queries regarding the red glow seen during an eclipse of the sun.
Thanks RP for sending RP's Sun. Suggests a theory that the solar corona, rather than originating in the earth's atmosphere, is produced by reflection from meteoric dust. Informs RP that he has completed a catalogue of all observations of double stars.
Raises objections to JH's theory of the solar corona. Discusses possible existence of extensive meteoric dust in the solar system. Requests permission to dedicate a book on sidereal astronomy to JH. Asks JH whether his father in later years always used a front focus for his large telescopes and whether he saw the supposed four additional Uranian satellites with his 40-foot reflector.
Regarding patents, and quoting the results of experiments by foreigners without acknowledging the sources.
Replies to RP's objections to his theory of the solar corona. Informs RP that William Herschel's larger telescopes were used as front focus. Suggests explanation of his father's disconfirmed discovery of four additional Uranian moons.
Discusses JH's response to his comments on JH's theory of the solar corona. Discusses great difficulty of writing his planned book on sidereal astronomy.
Forgot to call his attention to the column regarding the Julian period in the Nautical Almanac. Something strange about the neighborhood of R. Leporis. He has no doubt seen the table of Julian dates in the Connaissance des temps.
Comments on the attitude of the French towards the Germans in light of the war.
Comments on sunspot activity.
Has notified J. C. Poggendorf of JH's notes on calorimeters. Discussion of Michael Faraday's indebtedness to JH's Prelim. Discourse.
B.A.A.S. has announced its intention of giving up Kew Observatory. What does he think of the possibility of the R.S.L. taking it over for Magnetic Observations? Sends a copy of the Kew report, also a copy of a letter from [Balfour] Stewart.
Turned JH's mineral specimen over to N. S. Maskelyne. Poor health of GW's wife.
Is glad he is pleased with the work of Balfour Stewart and himself. Has applied to R.S.L. for a further grant to carry on the observations and computations for another year. Intends to finance the last year himself. Since the death of his brother he has returned to business.
His colleague, [G. R.] Waterhouse, has passed an inquiry from JH to NM regarding a mineralogical character. It is a specimen of Obsidian, very high in iron content.
Comments on R.S.L. acquiring Kew Observatory building for creation of magnetic observatory [see JG's 1871-2-13].
Encloses photographs taken of the last eclipse. Draws his attention to certain aspects of the eclipse.
Sends prints of solar photographs taken last week at Kew, as requested by Warren de La Rue. Regrets that picture on 11 Feb. was unsatisfactory.
Mostly about how to deal with the implications of local attractions in geodetic surveying [see JH's 1870-11-17]; JH has had the mineral son John sent analyzed and sends the results. JH commiserates with daughter-in-law Mary's illness.
Thanks for, and comments on, some photographs of the solar corona.