Memoir and Correspondence of Caroline HerschelHerschel, John, Mrs.
History
Memoir and Correspondence of Caroline Herschel
Herschel, John, Mrs.
Herschel, Caroline Lucretia, 1750-1848
1792. _May 3rd._—My brother having desired me by way of practice to
settle the stars α Persei and Castor, and α Virginis, by some
neighbouring stars in Wollaston’s Catalogue, I made last night an
attempt to take their places. The moon was near the full, therefore no
sweeping could be done.
1795. _May 1st._—_Mem._ In the future when any great chasms appear in my
journals, it may be understood that sweeping for comets has not been
neglected at every opportunity which did offer itself. But as I always
do sweep according to the precept my brother has given me, and as I
often am in want of time, I think it is very immaterial if the places
where I have seen nothing are noted down.
_Nov. 7th._—0.40 sidereal time. About an hour ago I saw the comet
[seventh] which is marked in the annexed field of view [diagrams drawn
with extreme neatness illustrate the entries when necessary]. When I
perceived it first the two small stars were entirely covered by it, and
it appeared to be a cluster of stars mixed with nebulosity; but not
knowing of such an object in that place, I kept watching it, and
perceived it to be a comet by its having moved from the two small stars,
so as to leave them entirely free from haziness.
1797. _Aug. 14th._—C. H.’s comet. At 9.30 common time, being dark enough
for sweeping, I began in the usual manner with looking over the heavens
with the naked eye, and immediately saw a comet nearly as bright as that
which was discovered by Mr. Gregory, January 8, 1793. I went down from
the observatory to call my brother Alexander, that he might assist me at
the clock. In my way into the garden I was met and detained by Lord S.
and another gentleman, who came to see my brother and his telescopes. By
way of preventing too long an interruption, I told the gentlemen that I
had just found a comet, and wanted to settle its place. I pointed it out
to them, and after having seen it they took their leave.
[Sidenote: 1822. _Retrospection._]
These entries were continued with great regularity to the year 1819, at
which time, as the Diary shows, Sir William’s increasing feebleness made
her close daily attendance more necessary, and her pen was in greater
request than the “sweeper.” The last volume concludes with a carefully
drawn eye-draft of the situation of a comet visible at Hanover, January
31st, 1824. Thenceforth the instrument which had done such good service
in her hands for forty years of steady work, became the chief ornament
of her sitting-room, until her disquieting fears for its ultimate fate
led her to send it back to England.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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