Unidad documental simple GPP/1/2 - Mr Goodricke's Journal of Astronomical Observations begun in November 1781'

1 volume

In handwriting of John Goodricke. Inside front cover signed ‘John Goodricke 1783 – York’. Pages numbered 1-368 (pp.365-366 missing), with index on following 2 unnumbered pages. Several loose items have been inserted into the volume, including an astronomical diagram, notes, and blotting paper. Includes some astronomical drawings.

SUMMARY, EXTRACTS, AND TRANSCRIPTIONS:
‘This journal was begun in the begg. of November 1781 – the first thirty pages containing observations from Nov. 1781 to Jany. 23 1783 are copied from my old journal’. First entry, ‘Comet / November 16 / Mr. E. Pigott told me that at 9 oClock P.M. yesterday he discovered a comet with a small nucleus & coma near the neck of Cygnus. It appeared like a star of the 4th Magnd.’ The next few pages concern the comet: Edward Pigott showed Goodricke letters from Dr. Maskelyne (the Astronomer Royal), Sir Henry Englefield, and M. Mechain, the comet’s discoverer, who was hoping to identify the comet with that of 1337 and was intending to verify the Chinese observations of that comet.

From December 1781 there are observations of ‘Herchell’s Comet’ (‘or rather a star, what species we do not as yet know’). March 20th 1782, ‘At noon I saw Venus thro’ the transit Instrument in Mr. Pigott’s observatory’. April 22nd, ‘All my observations on Herchell’s Comet & on that of Novr. 1781 were observed only with a small perspective Glass […] but having now just got a larger telescope of two feet and a half [In margin, ‘Dollonds 2 ½ feet Achrom. doub. obj. Glass – very good’] with two tubes mag. 80 & 50 times, I put cross wires in both these tubes in order to observe the Comet with greater accuracy but the results of the Comets R.A. as compared with difft. stars were so disagreeing & unsatisfactory so that I thought proper to omit setting them in this journal’ [In margin, ‘ In the old Journal they took up four pages’].

June 20th 1782, ‘Having a mind to observe the variable stars in Cygnus – abt. midnight I looked for all the stars between Gamma & Eta Cygni in order to find the Nova of 1600’; they are shown in a diagram ‘a is the Nova of 1600 & appears at present of the 6th magnitude’.

July 19th 1782 [page 9], ‘Being desirous to have a Clock, I made choice of Mr. Hartley to make one for me. He has now finished it & it is put in my room. [‘in the middle between my two windows & opposite to ye fire but not near it, my room being of great length.’ deleted] It is to be regulated & reduced to either Apparent or Sydereal time by comparing with Mr Pigotts Clock in his observatory. The going of my clock is to be estimated by the vanishing of any star behind the Minster & for further particulars see the Journal of the going of my Clock. The Way to compare my Clock with Mr. Pigott’s Clock is by the last stroke of the Minster Clock – thus – I must mark the time of my Clock at the last stroke of the Minster at 12 oC & Mr Pigott must do the same with his. […] We must hear at almost the same moment. Some faithful person, upon whom I can depend, always tells me every stroke of the Minster & when he tells me the last - I always mark the Clock. N.B. my Clock is Mr. Smeaton’s Idea’.

Page 10, ‘I lately sent to Mr. Dollonds for two eye Glasses, one to magnify abt. 6 or 8 times & another abt. 140 or 160 times. I have now got them but they did not answer my expectations very well […] They have however sometimes their use still.’ Several observations and diagrams of sunspots are followed by an observation of the magnitude of Omicron Ceti.

In November 1782 (page 16) are notes on some variable stars, headed by Algol and including Delta Ursae Majoris, Alpha Draconis, and several stars in Hercules. On November 12th, ‘This night I looked at Beta Persei & was much surprized to find its brightness altered. It now appears of abt. The 4th magnd. It was hardley distinguishable from Rho Persei – I reckoned it as nearly equal to it in brightness’. November 13th, ‘Beta Persei is now much changed. It now appears of the second magnd. Brighter than Beta Arietis &c See page 16 of this Journal – very unexampled change !’

December 1782, ‘Having mentioned in page 9 of this Journal, the way of comparing my Clock with Mr. Pigott’s viz by the last stroke of the Minster but as Mr. Pigott is at a greater distance from the Minster than I am – He must hear the stroke somewhat later – I therefore judge it necessary to make some allowance when I reduce my observation by P’s Clock by subtracting a little from Mr. P’s time. Dr. Derham & Dr. Halley having found by accurate trials that sound takes up 1” to come at the distance of abt. Near ¼ of a mile & Mr. P’s observatory where his Clock is set being abt. A ¼ of a mile from the Minster very nearly, I always subtract 1” from Mr. P’s time – my distance from the Minster is only a few yards, therefore no allowance’.

December 28th, ‘At 5 ½ looked at Algol. It was much less bright than when I saw it two or three days ago. It appeard to be of the 4th magnitude. It was abt. The same brightness & colour as Delta & Gamma Persei – rather a little brighter than Rho Persei – not quite so bright as Beta Trianguli & Epsilon & Zeta Persei & no brighter than Beta Arietis. I must however confess that it was rather hardly distinguishable from Rho Persei, they sometimes appearing of the same brightness & sometimes the Rho seemed to be brighter. Mr E. Pigott nearly agrees with me & and am very glad he has now confirmed it as my last observn. On the change of this star was hardly credible on act. Of the quickness of the change.’

December 30th, ‘The singular Phaenomenon of Algol’s variation on the 28th inst. & on the 12th of Novr. Last, I think, can’t be accounted for in any other manner than that of supposing it to have suffered an Eclipse (if I may say so) by the interposition of a Planet revolving round it. This variation is evidently difft. From Omicron Ceti & other variable stars – Mr. E. Pigott having sent me a note to desire an extract of my observn. On the 12th of Novr. Last, gives the same opinion – thinks the imaginary planet must be abt. Half the size of Algol at least. Future observations will set this Phaenomenon in a clearer light.’

January 1st 1783, ‘Algol of the same brightness as on the 30th ult. As I intend to observe this star every day I will set its appearance &c &c in a separate place in page 364 of this Journal’. Observations continue of Algol, Omicron Ceti, Gamma Canis Majoris. On pages 27-28 are observations of Algol on the night of January 14th, taken at 7, 7.30, 8, 9, 9.30, 12 and 12.30 (the cloud that obscured the view after 9.30 had partly cleared by midnight); example ‘9 ½ oC. P.M. It is now a little more nearer to equality with the Rho than at 9oC. They appeared for the most part exactly equal both in colour & brightness tho’ sometimes Algol seemed to exceed it a very little. Magnd. 4th’. At the end of the night’s observations is a note, ‘Mr. Edd. Pigott saw it a little before 6 oClock. He thought it less bright than usual but rather brighter than Beta Arietis. Comparing this & my own observations, it appears that the duration of the supposed Eclipse is 7 hours, so that it takes up to change from the 2d to near the 4th Magd. In only 3 hours and a half – Singular indeed. – If the Period of Algol’s variation is regular – this will prove it has a planet revolvg round him.’

Part of an extended comparison of Algol brightness (under January 18th-19th), ‘a good deal less bright than Alpha Persei & Alpha Andromeda – much brighter than Beta Arietis & Gamma Pegasi – rather brighter than Alpha Pegasi – In short either between Gamma Pegasi & Alpha Andromeda or Beta Arietis & Alpha Persei. All these stars are of the same colour as Algol. I did not like to compare with Gamma & Beta Andromeda & Alpha Arietis because they are of difft. Colours – but as far as I can judge Algol is not as bright as them – they are a good deal larger than Algol – Alpha Andromeda and Algol are of the whiter light and consequently brilliant. Comparing this comparison with that in page 16, it appears that that in page 16 is not exactly at its full brightness. Instead of being equal to Alpha Pegasi as on p.16, it ought to be brighter than it. When Algol agrees with the abovementioned comparison or is at its greatest brightness, I always say that it is full or at its full brightness.’

At bottom of p.30 ‘Here ends the Copy of my old journal – Jany. 28th 1783 J.G.’.

Observations of the magnitude of Omicron Ceti are followed on January 31st with a series of observations of Algol, at ‘5 ½ & 6 ¾ P.M.’, ‘11+ P.M.’, ‘11 ¾ P.M.’, ‘12 ¾ A.M.’, ‘1 ½ A.M.’, and ‘2 ¾ A.M.’ ; ‘Comparing my observations on the 28th of Decr. & 14th of this month with this – It appears that its period is 17+ Days’ (p. 32). February 23rd, ‘At 12h Rho Persei seemed to be brighter than usual & so has it been observd several times before when Algol was at its least brightness as in page 28, 31 &c. I waited for further observations to confirm it but I am now emboldened to mention it because Mr. E. Pigott also thinks that it was brighter. Rho Persei’s usual brightness is of the 4th magnd. but when Algol equals it, I always judge it to be of the 3d or 4th. Being desirous to compare Algol with several stars, which are much nearer equal to it than those mentioned in p. 30 & also nearly at the same height – I compared it with the three bright stars in Cassiopeia which I have found the most proper for my purpose. It was not so bright as Gamma Cassiopeiae, rather equal or a little less bright than Beta Cassiopeiae & a little brighter than Alpha Cassiopeiae.’ [Marginal note ‘Sometimes it seems brighter than the Beta & sometimes nearly equals the Alpha nay sometimes the Gamma – they are all nearly of the same size as Algol’]

March 18th 1783, ‘Eclipse of the moon […] The times of all these observns. were observed by my Clock which was removed from my room in the morng. to an other where the Eclipse can be more conveniently observed – my Clock was compared with Mr. Pigott’s twice in the manner described in p.9. It was compared only about 20’ after my observn. of the begg. of the Total darkness, & therefore a good comparison.’ (p.36). April 3rd & 4th, ‘This night I discovered that Iota Cancri was double & also the 1st ad Phi Cancri. The former has a star of the 8th Mag. near it at 22” dist. The large star is of the 4th Magd. The 1 ad Phi has two equal stars very close together thus ., like Mu Draconis of the second class of Herchel’s Catalogue of double stars.’ April 19th & 20th, ‘I discovered three double stars, which I suppose is not in Herchel’s Catalogue’ ; marginal note, ‘They are not in Herchel’s Catalogue nor are those that I discovered on the 3rd & 4th of April, so I have sent them all to him’.

May 1783, ‘Having now got an excellent Equatoreal by Ramsden & procured for me by Dr. Shepherd – I examined it in order to see how far I ought to depend upon the Declination found by the Quadrant belonging to that instrument, which by a Nonius shews it to one minute … The instrument is second hand but in excellent condition’ (pp.40-41).

Against the marginal description ‘Memoir on Algol’; ‘May 12th: I sent a memoir containing all my observations on Algol & its singular Phaenomenon to the Revd. Dr. Shepherd, in order to be communicated by him to the Royal Society. The observations as they are delivered in ye memoir are nearly the same in substance as in this journal but more brief & corrected into better language, of which my first observations were in great want of. … Comparing all my observations on Algol it appears that it changes from the 2d to the 4th magnd. in abt. 3 hours & a half & from thence to the 2d again in the same space of time, so that the whole duration of this remarkable variation is 7 hours & this variation recurs regularly & periodically every two days & twenty hours & three quarters. For further particulars see my memoir & p.364 of this journal.’
After a note of the order of brightness of the stars in Hercules, on June 11th ‘Mr E. Pigott having told me that the Nova in Collo Cygni is now visible, I looked for it tonight at 11h with an Eye tube magnifg. 8 times’, with a plan of the stars in the area. June 22nd, ‘Nova Cygni as on the 16th – did not succeed in observing [Jupiter]’s 1st Sat. Imm. it being my first attempt.’

In July 1783 Goodricke was at Scarborough, making observations there on the 5th, 22nd, 24th, and 27th.
He was back at York by July 31st, ‘No alteration in the Nova Collo Cygni since my last observation. It was not much difft. from the b perhaps rather brighter. I don’t think it has ever varied. I am the more led to believe so because I have found that the b in p.8 is the same star we call here the Nova Collo Cygni. If it is not so, then such a plan of the stars as I have set down in p.8 never existed in the sky during the time I observed it, & then the plan wd. have been only my own fancy but that was not the case, for I remember very well the manner in which I have observed it. Mr. E. Pigott positively denies that the star, which he calls the Nova Collo & which I find is the b in my plan in p.8 did appear last year, because he observed it & could not see it then. […] In short there is much disagreement between us. As for my part, I don’t think
that that star which I here call the Nova in compliance with Mr. E. P.’s opinion never did vary & so will give up observing it anymore.’ Pencilled in the margin is a note, ‘this & part of the preceding article are foolish – we had too warm a dispute’ (p.47). The following page, headed August 11th, carries an explanation, ‘I now retract what I have said in the preceding page […] That I saw it is indeed true but as I did not observe it afterwards, I can’t possibly know what became of it since my observn.. But as Mr. Ed. Pigott has observed it a little while after & could not see the least trace of it till the Spring of this year, it must certainly have varied since my observn. in June 1782 […] In Short, I wish all what is said in that page be blotted out of the Journal.’ (p.48)

On September 10th there was an eclipse of the moon, which was closely observed for 3 ½ hours ‘All observed with Dollond’s 2 ½ feet Achrom. double obj. Glass magnfg power 80+. Mr. E. Pigott also observed some of those spots which I observed & nearly agrees with me to less than ½ of a minute except one in the latter end of the Eclipse. The nearest agreement is 1” & the greatest disagreement not above 25”. […] Those observations that are marked [dot] are rather a little doubtful & those that are marked : &c are doubtful’ (pp. 52-54).

October 21st, ‘I have great reason to believe that Alpha Cassiopeiae is brighter now than last year. It is now nearly equal & sometimes brighter than Gamma Cassiopeiae & certainly brighter than Beta Cassiopeiae. It is also rather brighter than Algol. Its magnitude about the second. Concerning my former observations on this star see p.35 &c. In p.35 I make it of between the 2d & 3d magnd. less than Algol & Beta & Gamma Cassiopeiae. […] All well compared & night fine. Alpha Cassiopeiae was observed several times before tonight. I make great use of the Cassiopeian stars whenever I observe Algol, so that I think I can’t err, unless I observed them last year under unfavorable circumstances & without any caution as to the weather which as far as I can trust my memory was not the case.’

October 25th, ‘Looked at the Nova in Collo Cygni. It was hardly visible with a power of 8. It appeared of abt. the 11th or 12th magnitude.’ November 12th, ‘The night being fine, I looked for the Nova in Collo Cygni but could not see it at all’ ; a plan shows the place where the nova ought to appear. November 20th, ‘Mr. E. Pigott having told me this morning that he discovered a Nebula or Comet in the Whale’s head between Alpha & Gamma Ceti, I looked for it tonight at abt. 7 ½ h, & at 11h it visibly changed its place, being more northwards, from this motion it evidently appears that it was a Comet.’ December 24th, ‘Omicron Ceti was of the 10th magnitude & much diminished since my last observation. Could not see Nova in Collo Cygni. I intend later to take very exact plans of the small stars near Omicron Ceti & Nova Cygni with my new Night Glass, which takes in a very large aperture & magnifies 6, 12 & 20 times.’ December 30th, ‘Immersion of Delta Piscium into the [Moon]’s dark limb, uncertain to 5” or upwds. 2h 42’ –0”. I did not observe the Emmersion. The weather was intensely cold & frosty & I was not well enough to venture out. The thermometer was at about 16˚ & next morning Decr. 31st at 8 oClock, it was at 9˚ by my Thermometer. [Marginal note, ‘made by Dollond’] (p.67)

January 19th 1784, ‘Algol varied to-night & I have made 6 good observations on it, from which I have determined the time of its least magnitude or greatest diminution of light to be at 6h-48’ Appt. time true, I believe to 10 minutes, if not less. […] Last month I sent another Memoir to the Royal Society, in which I have determined the Period of Algol’s changes to be 2d-20h-49’-3”, true to ten seconds & have also added a few other remarks.’

February 8th, ‘In consequence of an advertisement in the London Chronicle, that a Comet with a Tail of two degrees was discovered on the 24th of Jany., last, in France by Compte de Lassini, I looked for it tonight & immediately found it in the Tail of the Northern Fish with about 355º of Right Ascension & 5 Degrees North Declinn. Its nucleus was very bright & about half a minute in diameter. […] By comparing my observation with that of Compte Lassini Jany 24th last, I think that the Comets light is decreasing & that it is coming from the Sun. It is a very fine Comet.’

February 12th, ‘At 7h½ in the morning The Thermometer was at 12º½ . This morning is the coldest day next to Decr. 31 1783 & Jany 25th last. The Thermometer was at a Southern exposure on all those days.’
Headed, ‘London – March 15th: The Nova Hydra appeared to me to be much diminished since the 23d of January. it was rather less than stars of the fifth magnitude – Air was not clear enough.’(p.71).

The next entry is for July 15th and refers to Herschel’s publication in Philosophical Transactions, Vol. 73, suggesting some errors in Flamsteed’s catalogue of stars and ending ‘Mr E. Pigott next day told me that he has looked over the 2d Vol. of Flamstead but that he could not find any observations of either the 80 or 81 Herculis in it. As to the 71st Herculis he cannot find it too but as Flamstead’s observations on the 70th Herculis differs a little, he thinks he has made the 70th & 71st, which ought to be one & the same star, different ones. I believe Flamstead has put in the 80 & 81 in his Catalogue thro’ some mistake or oversight. I am now more confirmed in opinion that the three above stars which Herschell thought were lost, never existed.’

September 10th, ‘Abt. 1h I thought Beta Lyrae was much less than usual’; observations were continued throughout the month, culminating in long sessions of close observation on the 29th and 30th. By the 30th he had reached a conclusion, ‘viz that it varies during the space of about 36 or 40 hours & its Period is 6d-10h +- just. If, however, it shd. happen otherwise, then I have been deceived by the weather & the fallacy of sight & will no more trust to such exceeding small variations.’

Meantime, on September 12th, ‘Mr. E. Pigott suspects that Eta Antinoi is variable & has desired me to compare it with other stars, in order to see whether I also think it varies. Its relative brightness this night was thus – rather a little brighter than Iota Antinoi, & less than Theta Serpentis. Air clear.’
On p.85 are some observations, ‘The following were collected from Slips of Paper & which I forgot to set down in their right places in this journal.’

20th October 1784, ‘2 Hydra appeared as a Star of the 4th or 5th Magnd . 1 Hydra – of the 6 or 7 & 3 Hydra of the 7th – they were rather low. I have some doubts whether I have hit upon the right stars.’ (p.94)
October 24th, ‘Delta Cephei / This star now appears brighter than yesterday – 6½ - it seemed nearly between Zeta & Epsilon Cephei but rather nearer Zeta – somewhat brighter than Gamma Lacertae & somewhat less than Eta & Iota Cephei’, followed by comparisons of Gamma Lacertae, Eta Antinoi, and Beta Lyrae.
‘For observations on the Star Delta Cephei See p. 362 of this Journal’. From December 1784 onward there are few observations in this part of the journal ; most of those taken at this time are at the back of the journal, pp.339-364.

March 11th 1785, ‘Thermometrical observations / at 12h – at 23˚ - Ramsdns. Thermr. Southn Aspect / 23 ½ - Dollnds. Do – Northn. Aspct. / - 8 – [Sun] being up – Ramsdns. with Southn. Aspect stood at 26˚ - / I’ve marked these observns. down because they denote a degree of cold uncommon for the season -’.
July 31st, ‘Imm. of [Jupiter]’s 1st Satell. by my Clock 12h 13’ 31” When the Satell. was very faint & only seen by intervals, a thin cloud covered Jupiter. The Observation seemed to be tolerably good but the above circumstance & the Watch I used render it rather a little doubtfull. My Watch being with Mr Arnold, I used Mr. E. Pigotts Watch but the minute & second hand did not agree, however I took as much care as possible’. This is followed by entries on September 12th and 15th (the latter was an immersion of Jupiter’s first satellite observed at the Pigotts’ observatory using ‘a good treble object telescope of Watkins’) ; the next and last entry in this section is a pencilled note for 24th February 1786, ‘Variable in Hydra not visible with an Opera Glass’ (p.115).

Pages 116-338 are blank.

Entries at the back of the book contain observations of particular variable stars, the earliest in 1782 and the latest in March 1786. Entries start at p.364 and work back to p.339.

Page 364 : ‘Observations on Algol – see page 43 of this journal’, observations covering 30th December 1782 to 20th February 1783.

‘Observations on the variation of Delta Cephei, which I discovered October 19 1784’, begin on pp.362-3, covering 29th November 1784 to 26th February 1785, then go to pp.351-354, covering 28th February to 1st December 1785, then to p.339, covering 2nd January to 27th March 1786.

Observations on Eta Antinoi begin on p.361, covering 19th November 1784 to 20th July 1785, then go to p.346, covering 28th July to 26th September 1785.

Observations of the variation of Beta Lyra begin on pp.359-360, covering 25th November 1784 to 4th April 1785, then go to pp.348-350, covering 2nd April to 16th October 1785, then go to pp.341-2, covering 17th October 1785 to 30th March 1786. The last entry is ’30 – 11 ½ / believe less than last night – it seeming rather less than Xi Herculis – much Auror. Boreal’.

Page 357 is headed ‘Observations on the variable star in Cygnus Neck discovered by M. Kirch – 1680 / For all the observations since 1782 & 1783 see from p. to p. 82 of this Journal.’

Page 355 has ‘Observations on the variable star Omicron Ceti – discovered by Fabricius 1596’, covering 9th August 1782 to 10th February 1783.

The sheet with pages 365-366 is missing. Pages 367-368 are blank.

Two un-numbered pages contain an index to the volume, not in alphabetical order. Items indexed :

Comet of 1781 pp. 1,2,3
Georgium Sidus pp. 4,5,6,7,11, 12 15, 23, 55
Algol pp. 16,19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 27 to 43, 46, 48 to 61, 66, 68, 75 to 78, 87, 93, 96, 100, 364
Nova in Collo Cygni pp. 8, 43 to 51, 58, 59, 67, 74, 75, 77, 80, 82
Nova in Cygno of 1600 pp. 7, 8
Omicron Ceti pp. 11, 12, 13, 15, 19 to 26, 29 to 34, 48, 50, 55, 56, 67, 69, 80, 89, 101, 355
Beta Lyra & other stars in Lyra pp. 79 to 84, 87 to 107 - 359
Eta Antinoi & other stars in Antinous or Aquila pp. 80 to 83, 87 to 105, 361
Variable star in Hydra pp. 68, 69, 71, 110, 112, 115 – 94, 101
Comet 1783 pp. 61 to 66
Comet 1784 pp. 70 & 71
Nebulae pp. 7, 10, 11, 46, 50, 74
Sun’s Spots pp. 13, 14, 15, 20
Eclipses of the moon pp. 36, 37, 52, 53
Eclipses of Jupiter’s satellites pp. 45, 54, 56, 58, 75, 77, 78, 80, 91, 104, 108, 113, 114
Occultations of stars by the moon pp. 21, 38, 67, 69
Double stars pp. 9, 38, 40
Venus pp. 6
Saturn pp. 10
Instruments pp. 6, 9, 10, 40, 41
Thermometer pp. 67, 69, 71, 95, 109
Miscellaneous remarks or observations pp. 22, 42, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49
Ursa Major p p. 16, 17, 88, 57
Draco pp. 17, 18, 19, 21, 43, 88 ; 95, 96, 100, 103, 57, 72
Hercules pp. 17, 18, 19, 21, 43, 72, 73, 81, 86, 87, 88, 79, 82, 83, 84 mostly to 107 – Theta perhaps variable and when Beta Lyrae is obserd.
Gemini pp. 18
Cetus pp. 18
Aquila or Antinous pp. 18, 85, 86, 99 to 105
Leo pp. 18
Sagittarius pp. 18
Canis Major & others in Canis Maj. pp. 26, 101
Virgo pp. 26, 32
Delphinus pp. 84, 85, 89, 90
Sagitta p. 85
Ophiucius pp. 86
Corona Borealis pp. 73, 85, 86, 89, 90
Lyra pp. 76, to 107 No. 19 &c disappear’d
Capricorn p. 76
Aquarius pp. 77, 86
Serpens p. 86
Pisces p. 86
Singular appearance of the sun p. 45
Ditto of the moon pp. 47
Orion compared pp. 91, 101, 102 – 105
Cepheus pp. 94, to 111 Theta is perhaps Variable Delta pp. 362-112
Hydra pp. 94, 101, 110, 112
Cygnus pp. 94, 96, 111
Procyon compared pp. 101, 102
Taurus compared pp. 101, 102
Eridanus p. 102
Andromeda p. 95 – 16, 30 when Algol is Observed -
Capella p. 102 compared
Libra p. 110
Variable in Leo pp. 111, 112
Cassiopeia Gamma Beta Alpha pp. 35, 42, 54, 55, 56, Alpha Gamma Beta 58, 59, 60, Alpha Gamma Beta 61, 81 Alpha Gamma Beta, 103
Triangulum pp. 16, 19, 23, 57 and when Algol is Observed
Arietis pp. 16-19, 23 and when Algol is Obserd.
Leo p. 18
Perseus many stars when Algol is Observed
Pegasus , when Algol was Observed
Cluster of stars p. 46
Mars p. 46 Reflection in the Sea
Lacerta pp. 94, to 111

On the last page is a pencil note, ‘examined throughout / Lyra / Aquila or Antinous / Herculis / Cepheus / Lacerta’.

On the reverse of the last page ‘New Discoveries contained in this journal -----------
A periodical and quick alteration in the brightness of the Star Algol – first discovered Nov. 12th 1782 – An account of it in the Phil. Trans. for 1783 – Art. 26 and for 1784 – Art.22
A periodical variation of the light of the Star Beta Lyrae Sept. 10 1784 – An Acct. of it in Phil. Trans. for 1785 – Art. 9
A periodical variation in the brightness of the Star Delta Cephei – Oct. 19 1784’.

Notes on the inside back cover, ‘Decbr. 11 – 1784 began to use the term “something” as little – see p.95’ [in the hand of John Goodricke], ‘used quite as a word contrary to what I meant’ [in another hand], ‘Beta Lyra’s most exact Varia / 12-21h-30 true to 20 or 6-10h-45 true to 8 or 10’ [in the hand of John Goodricke].

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