| RefNo | L&P/7/192 |
| Level | File |
| Title | Paper, 'Of a comet [Uranus] seen on 13 March' by William Herschel |
| Date | 1781 |
| Description | Description of the first recorded observation of the planet Uranus by Sir William Herschel, from Bath. Herschel misidentifies the object as a comet throughout the letter, despite noting similarities with the characteristics of a planet. The categorisation is first proposed by the Astronomer Royal, Nevile Maskelyne then confirmed by other astronomers across Europe. William Herschel will propose in a later letter to name it Georgium Sidus.
Contains two pages of figures.
Subject: Astronomy
Published in Philosophical Transactions, as 'Account of a comet'
Read 26 April 1781 |
| Extent | 23p |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper and two pages of plates |
| Digital images | View item on Science in the Making |
| AccessStatus | Open |
| RelatedMaterial | DOI: 10.1098/rstl.1781.0056 |
| RelatedRecord | L&P/7/192/1 |
| L&P/7/192/2 |
| L&P/7/192/3 |
| L&P/8/1 |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA8060 | Herschel; Sir; William (1738 - 1822); astronomer | 1738 - 1822 |