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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, from Charles Piazzi Smyth to Sir John Herschel, dated at Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope

Reference number: HS/16/225

Date: 9 March 1843

Description

Autograph letter signed by sender. Sends John Frederick William Herschel observations of Comet of 1843; disappointed with Cape Observatory's records of the comet. Oversees Observatory in absence of Thomas Maclear, who is at Zwartland for meridian survey. Lists and describes instruments in use at Cape Observatory. Discusses sources of error.

Reference number
HS/16/225
Earliest possible date
9 March 1843
Page extent
6 pages
Format
Manuscript
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Creator names

Charles Piazzi Smyth

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Charles Piazzi Smyth

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Citation

Charles Piazzi Smyth, Charles Piazzi Smyth, Letter, from Charles Piazzi Smyth to Sir John Herschel, dated at Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, 9 March 1843, HS/16/225, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_16_225/letter-from-charles-piazzi-smyth-to-sir-john-herschel-dated-at-royal-observatory-cape-of-good-hope, accessed on 11 August 2026

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_16_225/letter-from-charles-piazzi-smyth-to-sir-john-herschel-dated-at-royal-observatory-cape-of-good-hope

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  • Herschel Letters

    This collection of nearly 10,900 letters, drafts, copies and notes is the largest repository of scientific correspondence from and to Sir John Herschel, leading figure of Victorian science.

    Dates: 1807 - 1875

    View collection