W. R. Dawes observes sub-division of Saturn's rings. WS continues observing double stars recommended by JH.
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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.
W. R. Dawes observes sub-division of Saturn's rings. WS continues observing double stars recommended by JH.
Asks JH for description of JH's 'little sweeper' telescope; plans to give a sketch of it in WS's book.
Thomas Henderson discovered a comet on 2 December. Thanks JH for diagram of JH's comet-sweeping telescope.
Sends copy of Cycle of Celestial Objects. Meets an excellent optician named [Richard?] Gwatkin, who shows him four self-made telescopes.
Thanks JH for recommendation of C. P. Smyth. James South returns from Ireland; reports great observing conditions there.
C. P. Smyth receives appointment as Astronomer Royal of Scotland. Again thanks JH for recommendation.
Sends correction to data for Gamma Virginis. Asks if JH has 'considered the puzzle of Aristarchus [lunar crater]' discussed in WS's Cycle of Celestial Objects.
R.A.S. making exception in letting J. H. Mädler's chart be removed for JH. Continues observation of Gamma Virginis.
Sends Gamma Virginis data. Will report Aurora Borealis observations to R.A.S.
Thanks for inspecting WS's [manuscript] and noting errors. Computations by Mr. Hinde [J. R. Hind?] from observations of Gamma Virginis by WS.
J. R. Hind determined orbit of Mu2 Boötes using JH method.
Discusses importance of Gamma Virginis: 'I consider it a grand key to several important physical points.' W. R. Dawes claims to have observed a third Uranian satellite.
Pleased with JH Gamma Virginis observations. 'Lunar affair' disappoints WS. Cycle of Celestial Objects being translated into Italian.
Asks JH to write an abstract of the discourse JH presented to R.A.S. Moon model is on display at R.A.S.
Asks JH's advice on the purchase of the lunar model. Anxious to see JH's new method of calculating double star orbits.
Double star orbits not ready; R.A.S. waiting for JH's new calculating method. Reads accounts of Biela's Comet. Describes Edinburgh Observatory in detail.
Receives report on poor state of Paramatta Observatory. Encloses letter from Thomas Brisbane, who believes James Dunlop should be removed from his post of authority there.
Sends copy of James Graham's letter concerning transfer of Paramatta Observatory to government authority. Thanks JH for advice on the matter. Discusses methods of magnitude estimation.
Sends copy of J. R. Hind's observations of Gamma Virginis; believes they are 'too slow.' Also sends report of the Charter Committee of the R.S.L. Believes R.S.L. not selective enough. Has difficultly using JH's method of magnitude determination.
Encloses copy of 29 July 1846 letter from G. B. Airy, who refuses to act on any further recommendations from Board of Visitors so long as James South is member of Board. Insinuations by South in R. H. Inglis's motion before House of Commons are deemed malevolent by Airy, who no longer considers South competent to guide scientific inquiry.