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The Nineteenth-Century Spiral Nebula Whodunit

Abstract

The discovery of the first spiral nebula was a milestone in the history of astronomy, but the initial observations of it are shrouded in mystery. The discovery came within months of the commissioning of the Third Earl of Rosse’s very large 72-inch optical telescope at Birr Castle in the center of Ireland. Unfortunately, no observing records have survived, and while there is no doubt that the observations took place in the spring of 1845, there is some uncertainty as to whom was actually present when the discovery was made. The construction of the Earl’s telescope (the Leviathan) was a magnificent achievement, since it was entirely of his design, built with his own funds, and constructed by his own workers who were literally taken “from the plough” on his estate. The summer of 1845 saw the first appearance of the Irish Potato Famine of 1845–1848, which would seriously curtail astronomical activity when Lord Rosse’s 72-inch telescope was in prime condition.

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References

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  25. Ibid., p. 8.

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Acknowledgment

I thank Roger H. Stuewer for his thoughtful and careful editorial work on my paper.

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Correspondence to Trevor C. Weekes.

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Weekes, T.C. The Nineteenth-Century Spiral Nebula Whodunit. Phys. Perspect. 12, 146–162 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00016-010-0018-5

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Keywords

  • William Parsons, Third Lord Rosse
  • Thomas Romney Robinson
  • James South
  • William Herschel
  • John Herschel
  • Birr Castle
  • reflecting telescopes
  • spiral nebulae
  • history of astronomy