New Catalogue of Nebulae
By the English Churchman
Another splendid monument of Herschelian genius was laid
before the Royal Society in January 1864, a gigantic catalogue of all the known
nebulae compiled from every imaginable source.
No less than 5,063 objects are here set down, of which 2,307
are from Sir John Herschel’s own catalogue of 1833, 1,713 from his Cape
observations and the residue from miscellaneous sources. The year 1860 has been adopted as the epoch for which all the mean places are computed, and not the
least important feature is the systemised plan which has been adopted for
describing the sizes of the various objects based on direct actual measurement.
This catalogue which will add one more to the many laurels
already borne buy its distinguished author, will no doubt, be placed in the
printer’s hands with as little delay as possible, but the expense of printing
will be very considerable.
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