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Proctor, Richard Anthony in correspondent 
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From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[24 July 1869]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.112
Summary:

Cites various celestial appearances as a basis for concluding that the Milky Way takes the form, not of a disk or ring, but of a series of convolutions. Urges that the nebulae form part of the Milky Way rather than being separate universes, as many had suggested. Asks JH to critique these ideas.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Richard Anthony Proctor
Date:
[1 August 1869]
Source of text:
RS:HS 24.276
Summary:

Encourages RP in his speculations about the nebulae and the structure of the Milky Way, which RP suggested is formed of a 'system of convolutions,' but raises objections to RP's views. Discusses idea that the Milky Way contains miniatures of itself and that beyond it may be a hierarchy of universes comparable to the Milky Way.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[9 August 1869]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.113
Summary:

Elaborates on his hypothesis that all forms of nebulae are part of the Milky Way and on his 'twisted-stream theory' of the Milky Way's structure. Favors view that dark matter is relatively common in space and that it extinguishes light from distant objects. Proposes method of measuring stellar diameters.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Richard Anthony Proctor
Date:
[20 August 1869]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.114 & RS:HS 24.277
Summary:

Discusses Olbers's Paradox, raises objections to RP's argument for the existence of dark celestial matter, and points out problems in RP's method of measuring stellar diameters.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[22 August 1869]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.115
Summary:

Accepts JH's objection to his method of measuring stellar diameters. Quotes an argument he had published suggesting the existence of a hierarchy of systems in an infinite universe. Discusses his studies of the relation of proper motions to the sun's motion. Asks JH's permission to publish JH's idea that some nebulae may be 'miniature' of the Milky Way.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[6 November 1869]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.116
Summary:

Asks JH's views on a system of constructing and annotating a set of celestial maps RP was preparing. Requests JH's public endorsement of those maps.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[13 November 1869]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.117
Summary:

Thanks JH for suggestions concerning a star atlas RP was preparing. Informs JH of his progress in making that atlas.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[13 November 1869]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.118
Summary:

Discusses his progress preparing star maps. Stresses that such maps can suggest theories of the arrangement of stars and nebulae. Mentions various papers and maps RP was then publishing

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Richard Anthony Proctor
Date:
[7 February 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.119
Summary:

Discusses various telescopes of his father and his father's [erroneous] announcement of his discovery of four additional satellites of Uranus.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[26 March 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.120
Summary:

Reports finding, while preparing a star atlas, that bright stars appear to be very dense in a region associated with the Milky Way but centered on the greater Magellanic Cloud. Because of a coming lecture on stellar distribution, 'I ... am saturating myself with Herschelian astronomy.'

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Richard Anthony Proctor
Date:
[1 April 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 24.301
Summary:

Suggests reasons for doubting the distribution of bright stars that RP had reported. Responds to RP's query concerning a statement in Outlines Ast. Encourages RP's hypothesizing on star distribution.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[3 April 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.121
Summary:

Reports on his studies of stellar and nebular distributions, discussing especially whether the Magellanic Clouds show a relation to the Milky Way stars. Speculates on whether recent studies on meteors bear on stellar formation and change. Stresses need for statistical studies in stellar astronomy.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[30 April 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.122
Summary:

Sends map from his new atlas. Reports finding a region rich in bright stars in the northern hemisphere but distinct from the Milky Way. States that in a Royal Institution lecture, he will claim that telescopes cannot reach the limits of the sidereal system and that it is far more complex than traditionally assumed.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Richard Anthony Proctor
Date:
[11 May 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.123 (C: RS:HS 24.312)
Summary:

Thanks RP for sending RP's Other Worlds than Ours and supplies comments, some favorable, on numerous claims made therein, e.g., on RP's theory that Jupiter and Saturn are hot and to some degree luminous.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[12 May 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.124
Summary:

Thanks JH for commentary on RP's Other Worlds than Ours. Responds to JH's comments, accepting most objections. Acknowledges his major debt to JH's writings.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Richard Anthony Proctor
Date:
[16 May 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 24.314
Summary:

Assures RP that he is not upset at RP for publicly questioning some of JH's ideas. Continues discussion of point in perturbation theory for Uranus.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[17 May 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.125
Summary:

Admits JH is correct in suggested correction of RP's statement regarding perturbations of Uranus. Suggests that JH urge astronomers to observe the solar corona carefully.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Sir John Herschel
To:
Richard Anthony Proctor
Date:
[1 June 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 24.316
Summary:

Continues to explain matters in perturbation theory. Stresses need for careful observations in solar eclipses. Doubts the existence of the hypothetical intermercurial planet Vulcan.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[2 June 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.126
Summary:

Admits his misstatement in RP's Other Worlds than Ours concerning perturbation of outer planets. Shares JH's doubts about existence of Vulcan. Speculates on the extent of meteoric material in the solar system. Comments negatively on J. Norman Lockyer's views on meteors.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
Richard Anthony Proctor
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[25 July 1870]
Source of text:
RS:HS 14.127
Summary:

Asks JH's advice on whether a method devised by RP of charting bright stars in isographic projections based on star gauges seems best. Describes the method and urges that the charts will produce useful suggestions about the distribution of stars.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project