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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Correspondence Explorer

Choose two people to view all letters between them.

Showing 6 letters from 1842–1847

4 letters from Carl August von Steinheil; 2 letters from John Frederick William Herschel

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Birth of Julia Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart

1842

Sir John Herschel publishes in the Philosophical Transactions

1842: Sir John Herschel publishes “On the action of the rays of the solar spectrum on vegetable colours, and on some new photographic processes”

Autograph letter signed by sender. Suggests new method of gold plating the telescopic mirrors to prevent oxidation. Mentions having tried to galvanize the mirrors with 'Galvana plastik.'

Reference number: HS/17/4

Contemporary copy in sender's hand, signed by sender. Thanks for suggestion of gold plating the telescope mirrors. Mentions idea of mounting a reflector horizontally but finds its execution 'insufferable'. Thanks for work on photometric measurement of light of stars. Disagrees on some results. Encloses new photographic specimens.

Reference number: HS/17/5

Copy of letter, copied as part of the correspondence project led by Colonel John Herschel FRS following the death of his father. Thanks for suggestion of gold plating the telescope mirrors. Mentions idea of mounting a reflector horizontally but finds its execution 'insufferable'. Thanks for work on photometric measurement of light of stars. Disagrees on some results. Encloses new photographic specimens.

Reference number: HS/22/124
1844

Birth of Matilda Rose Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart

1844

1845

Sir John Herschel serves as President of the British Association

1845

Autograph letter signed by sender. Tells John Frederick William Herschel that his travels will take him to London. Requests time and day when they can meet personally in Kent.

Reference number: HS/17/6
1846

Birth of Francisca Herschel, daughter of John Frederick William Herschel and Margaret Brodie Stewart

1846

Sir John Herschel serves his second term as Foreign Secretary of the Royal Astronomical Society

1846: To 1847

1847

Sir John Herschel serves his second term as President of the Royal Astronomical Society

1847: Until 1849

Sir John Herschel receives the Copley Medal

1847: Sir John Herschel receives the Copley Medal of the Royal Society "For his work entitled Results of Astronomical Observations made during the years 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837 and 1838, at the Cape of Good Hope; being a completion of a telescopic survey of the whole surface of the visible heavens, commenced in 1825"

Sir John Herschel publishes a paper

1847: Sir John Herschel publishes Results of astronomical observations made during the years 1834, 5, 6, 7, 8, at the Cape of Good Hope; being a completion of a telescopic survey of the whole surface of the visible heavens, commenced in 1825.

Autograph letter signed by sender. Tells John Frederick William Herschel that his invitation to visit came too late. Regrets deeply not having the opportunity to meet, but expects to do so next year. Hopes to present two works to John Frederick William Herschel at that time. Mentions working with the talented P. L. Seidel, his assistant.

Reference number: HS/17/7

Autograph letter signed by sender. Tells John Frederick William Herschel of [P. L. von] Seidel's success in comparing luminosity of stars by means of a photometer. The results match those of John Frederick William Herschel. Sends John Frederick William Herschel a copy requesting that the form be ignored and it be communicated to the Royal Astronomical Society

Reference number: HS/17/8