Dossier GPP/3/9 - ‘Observations - Drawings - Letters etc. of the Comet of 1811’

1 folder

Folder of papers containing observations, drawings, and letters on comets.

Contents:
(a) Drawings and observations of the comet of 1811: (i) Sketch Sep. 8-10, (ii) Sketch Sep. 8-10, observations Sep. 1-10, (iii) Pencil sketch Oct. 9-10, (iv) Pencil sketch undated, (v) Observations Oct. 8 and sketch, (vi) Sketch Oct. 9-10.

(b) Permit (in French) for Pigott to use a French institute’s library (addressed to Pigott at Hotel de Nantes, Paris). Undated. The reference to ‘institut’ may refer to L'Institut national des sciences et des arts, which would date it after 1795, presumably to Pigott’s stay in France after the Peace of Amiens.

(c) Observations of a comet made in April 1781, commencing ‘April 3d R.A. 84º 23’½ Declin. 23º 34’ N.’.

(d) Draft of a letter of June 1792 from Pigott to M. Cassini of the French Academie Royale de Sciences (in French), thanking him for sending the continuation of ‘L’extrait des observations astronomiques’, noting that he had just returned after a six-year absence to their observatory and intended to recommence his ‘amusements Astronomiques’, and offering to make astronomical observations from York. An explanatory footnote (in English) refers to M. Mechain, ‘whose correspondence I first did neglect; but who soon after, printed in the Connais: d. Tems [Connaissance des Temps], the proper motion of Beta [Virginis] without mentioning me – as also my improved method of determining diff. of Merid:ns by the Meridian [Moon] & not a word of me – also the Long: & Lat. of York without my name to it -’.

Summary of contents and extracts have been provided by a volunteer.

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