Description:

Science

Herschel's Memoir Which Created the Name "Asteroid", 1802

 

An original copy of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society pages 213-232  (May 6, 1802) "Observations on the two lately discovered celestial Bodies" (the discoveries by Giuseppe Piazzi 16 July 1746 — 22 July 1826) and Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers, October 11, 1758 — March 2, 1840) in 1801-2 of the asteroids Ceres and Pallas, Herschel distinguishing them from stars, comets and planets, creating the name, "Asteroids". Document bound loosely with the original stitching. Light edgewear and toning. 9" x 11.5"

 

On May 6, 1802, William Herschel presented to the Royal Society a memoir, "Observations on the two lately discovered celestial bodies," and on May 22 he sent to Piazzi a long letter in which he summarized the content of his memoir: "I say in my paper, that the interesting discoveries of Mr. Piazzi and Olbers have introduced to our acquaintance a new species of celestial bodies, with which hitherto we have not been acquainted". This is one of Herschel's strokes of genius. Out of only two cases, Ceres and Pallas, and examining carefully in his memoir the principal features of planets and comets he drew the correct conclusion and proposed for these new bodies the name of "asteroids" because of their starlike appearance. Needless to say, the astronomical community was slow in accepting the ideas offerred by Herschel, and the term asteroid became widely accepted only early in this century.

 

In 1802 Herschel had discovered the planet Uranus. He called the new planet the "Georgian star" (Georgium sidus) after King George III (see footnote), which also brought him favor; however, the name did not stick. In France, where reference to the British king was to be avoided if possible, the planet was known as "Herschel" until the name "Uranus" was universally adopted. The same year, Herschel was awarded the Copley Medal and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 1782, he was appointed "The King's Astronomer" (not to be confused with the Astronomer Royal).

 

Frederick William Herschel, (15 November 1738 —25 August 1822) German-English astronomer, original published document in which he coins the name "asteroid".Herschel was a German-born British astronomer, composer and brother of fellow astronomer Caroline Herschel, with whom he worked. Born in the Electorate of Hanover, Herschel followed his father into the Military Band of Hanover, before migrating to Great Britain in 1757 at the age of nineteen. Herschel was best known as the discoverer of Uranus, and also known as the cataloguer of nebulae and galaxies.

 

There has been considerable controversy as to the originator or the term "asteroid". Herschel had actually asked British philologists for suggestions on what to name the objects, One of them, William Watson, offered many suggestions — including planeret, planetel, planetule, planetkin and planetling.  Herschel nixed them all, probably because he didn't want to extend the rocks' association with planets, Stephen Weston gave Herschel his list of unacceptable names in April 1802, the word "asteroid" was coined in May (as set forth in this document), and Weston didn't make his suggestions until June, 1802, a month after this publication.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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