Disappointed with format of Nautical Almanac. Arguments over this have caused many hard feeling among R.S.L. members. Details the controversy.
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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.
Disappointed with format of Nautical Almanac. Arguments over this have caused many hard feeling among R.S.L. members. Details the controversy.
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.
Sends comet observations from W. S. Jacob. Obtains 'another excellent epoch of Gamma Virginis.'
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.
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.
JH's theory of orbits of Castor and Gamma Virginis. Observations of Gamma Virginis by W. R. Dawes and by WS.
Agrees with JH opinions of Gamma Virginis orbit. Sends JH a drawing by C. P. Smyth of Halley's Comet.
Pleased with JH's Gamma Virginis results. Mr. Visconti made head of Military Geographical Institute at Naples.
Problems with computation of Gamma Virginis.
W. R. Dawes observes sub-division of Saturn's rings. WS continues observing double stars recommended by JH.
Asks JH for description of JH's 'little sweeper' telescope; plans to give a sketch of it in WS's book.
Thomas Henderson discovered a comet on 2 December. Thanks JH for diagram of JH's comet-sweeping telescope.
Sends copy of Cycle of Celestial Objects. Meets an excellent optician named [Richard?] Gwatkin, who shows him four self-made telescopes.
Thanks JH for recommendation of C. P. Smyth. James South returns from Ireland; reports great observing conditions there.
C. P. Smyth receives appointment as Astronomer Royal of Scotland. Again thanks JH for recommendation.
Sends correction to data for Gamma Virginis. Asks if JH has 'considered the puzzle of Aristarchus [lunar crater]' discussed in WS's Cycle of Celestial Objects.
R.A.S. making exception in letting J. H. Mädler's chart be removed for JH. Continues observation of Gamma Virginis.
Sends Gamma Virginis data. Will report Aurora Borealis observations to R.A.S.
Thanks for inspecting WS's [manuscript] and noting errors. Computations by Mr. Hinde [J. R. Hind?] from observations of Gamma Virginis by WS.
J. R. Hind determined orbit of Mu2 Boötes using JH method.