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Draft of a letter from Nevil Maskelyne to the Royal Society concerning the inadequacy of the equatorial sector for observing comets, 1770-07-12

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 4/320/5: 1-2

Scope and Contents

From the Series:

The collection comprises a large series of observations, calculations, computations and tables, with accounts, booklets, illustrations, journals of voyages, notes, treatises and other material. There is a large volume of correspondence, which reflects the varied nature of the Astronomer Royal's work, and includes correspondence with computers and comparers; letters from Gauss, Piazzi, Zach and Olbers, who contacted Maskelyne at the time of the discovery of the minor planets; and correspondence with Charles Mason about the 1769 transit of Venus. The subjects covered in the collection include marine chronometers and mathematical astronomy, the Schielhallion Experiment, Maskelyne's early life, and Charles Mason's calculation of the Moon's place. The papers are mainly in English, with other languages featuring intermittently.

Dates

  • Creation: 1770-07-12

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Management Group:

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Extent

2 folio(s) (2 ff.) : Paper

Language of Materials

English

Originator(s)

Maskelyne, Nevil

Original geographic information

Greenwich [origination]

Original geographic information

London [destination]

Finding aid date

2013-03-12 16:53:36+00:00

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom