Path of a comet
Date
19 March 1672
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p191a
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (page): 280mm
width (page): 167mm
width (page): 167mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Print signed by Julius Reichelt on paper, with manuscript annotations below.
Erich Mauritius (1631-1691), Professor of Law at the University of Kiel and Assessor to the Imperial Court, wrote in a letter to Oldenburg dated 19 March 1672 at Speyer about a comet observed in Strasbourg (12-13 March 1672) that Mauritius also tried to observe with a telescope, which he complained was poor. Mauritius reported that the comet was observed by Julius Reichelt (1637-1719), Professor of Mathematics at Strasbourg, and included a printed chart of it.
This chart (with printed positions to 17 March) is signed by Reichelt and is accompanied by manuscript notes (probably by Reichelt) of the observation of the comet to 18 March. The observation was made by stretching a thread between the comet and two easily recognizable stars. This chart has long been associated with Mauritius's letter, though its provenance is unclear. (The Correspondence of Henry Oldenburg, vol. 8, p. 603n.)
There are other copies of this print at EL/M1/68/005 and LBO/5/191b.
Erich Mauritius (1631-1691), Professor of Law at the University of Kiel and Assessor to the Imperial Court, wrote in a letter to Oldenburg dated 19 March 1672 at Speyer about a comet observed in Strasbourg (12-13 March 1672) that Mauritius also tried to observe with a telescope, which he complained was poor. Mauritius reported that the comet was observed by Julius Reichelt (1637-1719), Professor of Mathematics at Strasbourg, and included a printed chart of it.
This chart (with printed positions to 17 March) is signed by Reichelt and is accompanied by manuscript notes (probably by Reichelt) of the observation of the comet to 18 March. The observation was made by stretching a thread between the comet and two easily recognizable stars. This chart has long been associated with Mauritius's letter, though its provenance is unclear. (The Correspondence of Henry Oldenburg, vol. 8, p. 603n.)
There are other copies of this print at EL/M1/68/005 and LBO/5/191b.
Related fellows
Henry Oldenburg (1612 - 1677, German) , Scientific correspondent
Associated place