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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, from George Biddell Airy to Sir John Herschel, dated at Royal Observatory, Greenwich

Reference number: HS/1/84

Date: 31 October 1839

Description

Autograph letter signed by sender. Concerning John Frederick William Herschel's experiments with photogenic light. Encloses paper of the comparisons between John Frederick William Herschel's and the Observatory's barometers. The Royal Astronomical Society and Royal Society [of London] want a subject for medals in astronomy, Royal Society [of London] for a Copley medal in anything.

Reference number
HS/1/84
Earliest possible date
31 October 1839
Page extent
2 pages
Format
Manuscript
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Creator name

George Biddell Airy

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Citation

George Biddell Airy, Letter, from George Biddell Airy to Sir John Herschel, dated at Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 31 October 1839, HS/1/84, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/hs_1_84/letter-from-george-biddell-airy-to-sir-john-herschel-dated-at-royal-observatory-greenwich, accessed on 11 February 2026

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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