Sunday, 8 June 2025

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - Prizes for the discovery of comets - a report from 1870

 The following circular has been issued by the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Vienna: -

For several years past there have been remarkably few discoveries of comets. The cause of this fact, which seems inconsistent with that of the wider distribution of telescopes suitable for such discoveries, may be due to the special attention that has been given t the small planets. It is, however, much to be regretted that there has been such a slight increase in our knowledge of the comets, in view of the recently established connection between shooting stars and comets. It is exceedingly desirable that we should know more than two or three hundred out of the many thousands of comets which undoubtedly belong to our system, especially as most of those which we know move in parabolic orbits. Were our knowledge of comets more complete we should surely know more meteor streams and comets belonging one to the other. Mindful of Herr Schumacher’s words “It is natural that astronomers intrusted with the administration of a well-furnished observatory should have no time left for sweeping the sky so minutely and so perseveringly  as is necessary for discovering faint bodies, whilst on the contrary , it seems certain that to the many amateur astronomers who have less extensive means of observation hardly any more useful kind of activity could be recommended”, The Imperial Academy of Sciences at Vienna is induced tom propose for the discovery of comets during the three years from May 31st 1869 to May 31st 1872 eight prizes annually . consisting as the receiver may choose of a gold medal or of twenty Austrian ducats representing its value in money.

The award of these prizes will be subject to the following regulations: -

1.      The prize will be given only for the first eight comets discovered in each of the three years named, and only for such comets as are telescopic at the time of discovery, that is invisible to the naked eye. The comet must not have been seen before by another astronomer and must be one whose appearance could ot be predicted with certainty.

2.      The discovery must be communicated immediately and without waiting for further observations, to the Imperial Academy of Sciences, by telegraph if practicable, and otherwise by the earliest post. The Academy undertakes to transmit the news immediately to other observatories.

3.      The time and place of discover with the plan and course of the comet must be given as exactly as possible with the first notice. This first notice is to be supplemented by such later observations as may be made.

4.      If the discovery should be confirmed by other observers, the prize will not be awarded unless the observations of the discoverer suffice for the determination of the orbit.

5.      The prizes will be awarded in the general meeting of the Academy held at the end of May each year. In case the first notice of a discovery arrives between 1st January and the end of May, the final award of the prize will be deferred till the general meeting in May in the following year.

6.      Application for the prize must be made to the Academy within five months from the time of the arrival of the first notice. Later applications will be considered.

7.      The Imperial Academy will procure the decision of the permanent astronomers of the Observatory at Vienna as to the fulfilment of the conditions in Nos 1,3, and 4



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