A little ramble thropugh 19th century astronomy - Double stars and Sunspots in 1866

 Astronomical Register March 1866 

Sir, I shall be glad if you would accord me space in the register for the few folloung remarks. 

Between 21^st and 28^th February 1865 the atmosphere here was unusually steady. There was scarcely any limit to the magnifying power which the stars bore. 

Antares. On the morning of the s22nd, 27^th and 28^th, the companion was distinctly visible with my Cooke’s 4.5 inch refractor before and up to sunrise, free from the light of the large star. The green colour fo the companion was in fine contrast with the brilliant red of the large star. 

Lambda Ophiuchus. 4, 6, dist. 1.16” according to the Leyton observations, was clearly separated on the mornings of the 25^th, 27^th and 28^th. 

Psi2 Orion. 5.11.5 dist 2.95” (Knott). On the evning of the 26^th the small star was occasionally quite free from the rings of light around the karge star, a minute but bright point. 

Trapezium The fifth star has been generally very distinctly visible, and on several nights the sixth, though it has appeared to me minute in comparison to the fifth. 

Eta Orion. My Object glass fails to separate this close double star. The fine state of the atmosphere has enabled me to use very high powers, whicb show the two stars wedged together or overlapping, but without dividing them. 

I have also seen distinctly the components of 15 Pleiadum, 8,14, dist. 5”, and the 15^th mag companion to Beta Aquarius. 

Sun Spots. On the 30^th February a feature was visible which I have never before seen so distinctly. A brilliantly luminous band boarded the f side of a small spot which followed the large spot.  Another spot of some size followed the small spot at a little distance. I observed this one with one of Dawes’s eyepieces and powers from 90 tom 300, with glasses of different tints. Other details in the spots were at times beautifully defined. It is probable that this spot and luminous band were observed in England with instrument of larger aperture. 

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,  

D A Freeman

Mentone, Alpes Maritimes: Feb 7^th 1866

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