Showing 1–10 of 10 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.
Encloses catalogue of 1677 stars. Has sent his own report on star nomenclature to Plymouth. Will call at his house later in the week.
Hears with pleasure of the peace reigning at the Cape between the Caffres. The Boers are a different proposition and JH agrees with GN's policy. J. R. Innes called in on his way to Scotland. Weather in England is gloomy, like the political events.
Reliability of measuring instruments used in scientific and public surveys. Approves George Peacock's suggestion to revise survey tables for use by non-scientist surveyors. Schools should teach only legalized systems of weights, measures, and money.
Comments on the report [see GA's 1841-8-11]; wants the standards legislation to be demanding of rigor in application.
Is confused by French system of recording specific gravity and seeks GA's assistance; also GA and JH are named to a committee that JH thinks only wastes money.
Complains further about French specific gravity designation [see JH's 1841-8-14 or earlier], and describes observing colored fringes on the edge of clouds.
Discusses meteor showers of 9 August 1840, emanating from a point in the constellation Perseus. Calls attention to a report on these meteors as seen from near Vesuvius in 1779 by William Hamilton.
Is fully occupied reducing Cape observations, and is producing a star list by magnitudes, resulting in some interesting anomalies.
Further comments on the Standards Commission Report [see GA's 1841-7-27].
Replies to [?]'s questions about 'Mr. Bethune's suggestions' concerning terminology to be used for standards of weight and measure. Agrees with G. B. Airy that term 'land' should be used with 'land chain' unit.