As no one seemed to be finding Biela's Comet, JH sat up several nights looking for it and now has located it.
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As no one seemed to be finding Biela's Comet, JH sat up several nights looking for it and now has located it.
Encourages WS to spend time observing nebulae and double stars, especially the latter, 'since [James] South has given up observing, and [W. R.] Dawes is in habitual ill health.'
Intends to visit WS after attending Cambridge B.A.A.S. meeting.
Reports observations with WS's equatorial during Bedford visit. Packs instruments for voyage. Pleased that Thomas Maclear will take post of Astronomer Royal at the Cape Observatory.
Unable to send Gamma Virginis observations because papers are packed. Declines offer of WS's transit circle for use at Cape.
Describes voyage to Cape as being uneventful. 20-ft. reflector operating since late February; has already examined much of the southern sky. Believes the Milky Way is not equidistant from the earth at all points; and that the earth is between Canopus and Alpha Centauri. Amazed at clusters such as Omega Centauri. Describes richness of Magellanic Clouds. Details progress in erecting instruments. Sends observations of Alpha Crucis, which he believes is a double star.
Discusses contribution of WS's son, C. P. Smyth, as Thomas Maclear's assistant. Discusses observations of Halley's Comet, Gamma Virginis, other celestial objects, and the use of a double image micrometer.
C. P. Smyth appointment as assistant to Thomas Maclear pleases JH. Suggests method of determining right ascension of double stars with collimating telescope. Sends brochure proposing worldwide meteorological observations.
C. P. Smyth arrived at Cape on 10 October; Thomas Maclear seems pleased with his work. Asks WS to continue observing Gamma Virginis; JH has observed it only as a single star in recent attempts. Thanks WS for distributing meteorological brochures. George Eden visits and will send meteorological observations from India.
Thanks WS for having accepted his medal from R.A.S. Finds that the [Thomas] Brisbane Catalogue contains insufficient right ascension information, complicating reduction observations. Observed Halley's Comet.
Chooses a publisher and printer for Cape Results. Decides against getting portrait painted. Makes suggestions for observations.
Does not have operational telescope. Suggests WS set 1840 as epoch.
Plans to calculate Gamma Virginis orbit. Received WS paper on astronomical observations. Suggests WS look for a house in Kent after learning plans to move near London.
Thanks WS for C. P. Smyth drawings of Cape monument and Gamma Virginis observations. Notes J. H. Mädler's work on double stars and the doubt that they obey the inverse square law. Discusses use of photography in astronomy.
Will review all Gamma Virginis observations before revising orbit. Catalogue of major nebulae complete; will work on minor nebulae next.
Sends JH's 1817 observations; cannot locate any he made in 1811. Tells WS Gamma Virginis measurements will take more time.
Reaches conclusion about Gamma Virginis. States in regard to shape of orbit, 'We are all wrong.' Believes the orbit is less than 150 years. Claims that many errors exist in British measurements made between 1829 and 1834.
Sends calculations of Gamma Virginis and determines its eccentricity. Believes the orbit is highly elongated, like that of a comet.
Devises and suggests mode of micrometric measurement of angles.
Offers condolences to Ann Smyth. WS's calculation of Gamma Virginis orbit surprises JH. Concerned about accurate methods of calculation. Remarks on excavation of Chelsea mammoth.