| Reference number | MS/257/1/38 |
| Alternative reference number | Sa.38 |
| Previous numbers | ES1/6/38 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from George Biddell Airy, Trinity College, Cambridge to Edward Sabine |
| Date | 26 April 1827 |
| Description | Airy answers Sabine’s letter with a number of requests. Airy has not received Sabine’s account if axis of parallels. [Jean-Nicolas] Nicollet gave Airy and account of the observations (from the French part) for ascertaining the difference of longitudes, and requests Sabine to send him observations for latitude. Discussion on the deductions of the figure of the earth. According to Airy’s comparisons the form of the earth is not an oblate spheroid but is protuberant in the middle latitudes, and asks Sabine to inform Nicollet of this. Reference to page 43 of Nicollet’s memoir where he discusses the earth’s ellipticity found by comparing the arc of longitude with meridian arcs in middle latitudes. Discussion on arcs and pendulums.
Airy does not think too much of [Louis de] Freycinet’s account as he relied solely on his chronometers.
Airy discusses his method of obtaining the ellipticity from the meridian arcs as great as that from pendulums, and reference to the Swedish arc which in Airy’s opinion has been attributed too much importance. |
| Extent | 4p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| Physical description | Ink on paper |
| Access status | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | Name | Dates |
| NA8035 | Airy; Sir; George Biddell (1801 - 1892); astronomer and mathematician | 1801 - 1892 |
| NA8279 | Sabine; Sir; Edward (1788 - 1883) | 1788 - 1883 |