Comet observation (1683)
Date
11-17 August 1683
Creator
Robert Hooke (1635 - 1703, British) , Natural philosopher
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p54
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 321mm
width (page): 206mm
width (page): 206mm
Subject
Content object
Description
Observation of a comet by Robert Hooke on 11, 13, 16 and 17 August 1683. The position of the comet relative to other stars, the shape of its head and direction of its tail are recorded.
Cl.P/24/88 contains observations of comets by Robert Hooke between 1680 and 1683. These must be the papers found inserted into Hooke’s copy of the star chart Uranometria (Augsburg: Christoph Mang, 1603) by Johannes Bayer (1572-1625), which was purchased by the naturalist John Woodward FRS (1665-1728) at an auction of Hooke’s library after his death. Hooke’s copy of Uranometria is likely now the copy in the British Library (Maps C.10.a.17). Hooke used Bayer's symbols for stars in his observations.
Cl.P/24/88 contains observations of comets by Robert Hooke between 1680 and 1683. These must be the papers found inserted into Hooke’s copy of the star chart Uranometria (Augsburg: Christoph Mang, 1603) by Johannes Bayer (1572-1625), which was purchased by the naturalist John Woodward FRS (1665-1728) at an auction of Hooke’s library after his death. Hooke’s copy of Uranometria is likely now the copy in the British Library (Maps C.10.a.17). Hooke used Bayer's symbols for stars in his observations.
Object history
For Hooke's earlier observations of comets, see his ‘A discourse of the nature of comets’, in R. Hooke, Posthumous Works, ed. by Richard Waller (London: S. Smith and B. Walford, 1705), pp. 150-90.
Related fellows
Associated place