Search: Herschel, John in correspondent 
Smyth, William Henry in correspondent 
Herschel, John in addressee 
letter in document-type 
Sorted by:

Showing 2140 of 91 items

From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[4 February 1835]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.256
Summary:

Adds clock to telescope, enhancing distance measuring power. Search for Halley's Comet begins. Reports double star data; observes nebulae in JH's Catalogue of Nebulae. R.A.S. location moved to Somerset House. Quarrel between James South and Richard Sheepshanks being arbitrated.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[12 July 1835]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.257
Summary:

Describes factors that led to C. P. Smyth's appointment to Cape. Uses rock crystal prism for double star observations. Continues observing JH's nebulae with equatorial clock. Approves of proposal for worldwide meteorological observations; will distribute brochures.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[12 October 1835]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.258
Summary:

Details sighting of Halley's Comet; sends chart of dates, times, right ascension, and declination. Receives letter from Niccolo Cacciatore, which 'gives hopes of a new planet.'

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[12 February 1836]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.259
Summary:

Presents JH with R.A.S. medal for Catalogue of Nebulae.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[29 April 1836]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.260
Summary:

Reports conflicting observations of Gamma Virginis. Uses JH's method of measuring double star positions.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[23 July 1836]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.261
Summary:

JH letter on Gamma Virginis read at R.A.S. meeting. Niccolo Cacciatore appointed to new position at Palermo Observatory, where he plans to sell the Almanack. Many R.A.S. members experimenting with telescopic lenses.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[1 August 1836]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.262
Summary:

Plans study of Joseph Bianchi's New Sidereal Catalogue. Sends Bianchi excerpt describing double star of Gamma Virginis.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[22 February 1837]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.263
Summary:

Thanks JH for kindness to C. P. Smyth. Francis Baily re-elected president of R.A.S. W. S. Stratford prints a comet ephemeris.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[10 October 1837]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.264
Summary:

Sends early nineteenth-century astronomical observations. Francis Baily receives £500 from Parliament to enlarge stellar catalogue. Otto Struve's observations of Gamma Virginis agree with JH's.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[12 October 1838]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.265
Summary:

Suggests Moyes Publishing Company to JH. Observes Encke's Comet. Visited by W. R. Hamilton and John Russell.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[26 April 1839]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.266
Summary:

Wants to know if JH has a larger telescope in operation; if so, will he confirm some observations. Asks JH to recommend an epoch.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[30 October 1840]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.267
Summary:

Disappointed with format of Nautical Almanac. Arguments over this have caused many hard feeling among R.S.L. members. Details the controversy.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[17 February 1843]
Source of text:
TxU:H/M-0491; Reel 1093
Summary:

Extract from observations of 70 Ophiuchi by F. W. Bessel. Results agree with WS's measurements by different method and increase WS's confidence. Hopes for more information on Gamma Virginis before finalizing WS's manuscript.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[9 May 1843]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.268
Summary:

Sends comet observations from W. S. Jacob. Obtains 'another excellent epoch of Gamma Virginis.'

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[15 May 1843]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.269
Summary:

Francis Beaufort to publish comet information; also wants JH's opinion as to what data should be sent to Cape Observatory. James South will lecture at Royal Institution. South's requests for several historical astronomical instruments refused.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[6 June 1843]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.270
Summary:

Requests copy of JH's observations made in 1811. Asks latest opinion of JH on Gamma Virginis before the publication of his Cycle of Celestial Objects for the Use of Naval, Military, and Private Astronomers.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[23 June 1843]
Source of text:
TxU:H/M-0492; Reel 1093
Summary:

JH's theory of orbits of Castor and Gamma Virginis. Observations of Gamma Virginis by W. R. Dawes and by WS.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[2 July 1843]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.271
Summary:

Agrees with JH opinions of Gamma Virginis orbit. Sends JH a drawing by C. P. Smyth of Halley's Comet.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[11 July 1843]
Source of text:
RS:HS 16.272
Summary:

Pleased with JH's Gamma Virginis results. Mr. Visconti made head of Military Geographical Institute at Naples.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project
From:
William Henry Smyth
To:
Sir John Herschel
Date:
[31 July 1843]
Source of text:
TxU:H/M-0493; Reel 1093
Summary:

Problems with computation of Gamma Virginis.

Contributor:
John Herschel Project