On the questions of the usefulness of occultations and the use of mean time in astronomy, JH would much value WS's opinions.
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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.
On the questions of the usefulness of occultations and the use of mean time in astronomy, JH would much value WS's opinions.
Astronomical Society will lend instruments, including a Beaufoy Clock and a transit circle, to WS for his observations.
Discusses WS's comparison of results with transit circle and Astronomical Society catalogue.
Apologizes for controversy at meeting with James South over the transit circle.
Apologizes for incident at meeting; feels partially at fault for encouraging WS to speak on the subject. Advises WS on his microscope order. Stays at Slough because of good observing conditions.
Will visit WS after attending two R.S.L. committee meetings. Asks WS's opinion of usefulness of occultation information in the Nautical Almanac.
Observed two known satellites of Uranus, confirming William Herschel's observations. States, 'I am sure there are more than two.'
Microscopes installed successfully. Describes observation of second satellite of Jupiter transiting the disk of the planet and how it seemed to linger at the planet's edge.
Suggests that phenomenon in observing Jupiter satellite was an optical illusion. Asks WS to observe spots on Mars to confirm observations of William Pearson. Asks WS to contribute to W. S. Stratford memorial.
Agrees to contribute to W. S. Stratford memorial presentation. Agrees with JH that Jupiter satellite observation was an optical illusion; sends sketches of more Jupiter observations. Sends data obtained with new instruments.
Mr. Stocken[?] has discovered a comet; have been unable to observe it due to poor weather.
Sends information on occultation of Alpha Tauri. Describes meteors sighted during the night of 12 Aug.
Informs WS that JH located Encke's Comet the previous night, and gives the location.
John Lee has obtained transit circle for Astronomical Society. WS suggests someone other than Thomas Maclear operate it so Maclear has time for occultation project. Details observations of aurora.
John Lee donation pleases JH; concerned over who to appoint to take charge of the instrument. Asks WS to write account of aurora sighting for a scientific journal.
Thanks WS for excerpt from Niccolo Cacciatore's letter; comments on the awarding of medals for merit, and points out some necessary conditions which must be considered if the observations of the satellites of Jupiter are to be used in determining the constant of aberration.
Has difficulty observing sun spots. Thomas Maclear sends WS information for next year's occultation of Alpha Tauri. Completes rotating roof for personal observatory.
Advises WS on best ways to make a 'darkening glass' for solar observations. Also suggests method for delineating sunspots. Hopes WS will attend Nautical Almanac meeting and support his points. Completes two telescope mirrors and observes Uranian satellites. Asks WS to look for a double star between Beta1 and Beta2 Capricorni.
Discusses WS's observations of double stars and method of averaging positional determinations. Believes he has verified the two Uranian satellites observed by William Herschel.
Recommends WS pay attention to planetary nebulae, solid clusters, and double stars in his observations. JH lists some of each.