Lacock Abbey, near Chippenham
Aug. 30. 1835
My Dear Sir
As you have calculated the orbit of Halley’s Comet, 1 I hasten to communicate to you an observation I have made of it, wishing to know whether it agrees with those observations which no doubt have been made of it in the regular observatories.
Seeing in the newspapers that Sir J. South and Mr Hussey 2 had found the comet, I directed a pretty good telescope which I possess to the point of the heavens indicated by them, and at 2 A.M of the 28th August, the sky being very clear, I perceived a nebulous cloud of extreme faintness, situated exactly where I expected to find it according to their statements. At that time (Aug. 27. 14h) it stood very near to a considerable star, which is laid down in Harding’s [illegible deletion] Atlas Cælestis 3 in
| A.R. | 5h | 44′ | 40″ | |
| D. | 24° | 14′ |
nearly with this Star & 2 telescopic stars that are close to it, it formed a parallelogram therefore if necessary, I could deduce its position pretty exactly, within 1′ or 2′ of the truth. There was no other nebulosity visible within several degrees each way, therefore I conclude that the body I observed was the comet, which cloudy weather has since prevented me from observing. And as to the star I don’t think I can be mistaken with respect to its identity.
The observed position then differs from the Ephemeris given in the Nautical Almanac, 4 nearly
in A.R. half a degree
in Decl. one degree & a quarter
There are two other ephemerises given in the nautical Almanac, on the supposition of a variation of ±4 days in the perihelion passage. But the comet is without the limits so given, so that it appears that the time of perih. Passage (Nov. 7.) is in error more than 4 days. If tonight proves clear I intend to observe whether the nebulous body has moved from its place of Aug. 27, which will be decisive. I should be very glad to hear whether the observations you may have made of the comet, at all confirm the preceding statement.
Believe me to remain Dear Sir Yours very truly
H. F. Talbot
P.S. I was prevented from completing my mathematical paper 5 during the late session of the Royal Society by very long and serious illness 6 in my family. I have now taken it in hand once more & hope during the autumn to terminate it.
J.W. Lubbock Esqre
29 Eaton Place
London
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