Letters from Nevil Maskelyne to Joseph Banks.

Letter dated 17th October 1786 includes Maskelyne thoughts of lending instruments from the Board of Longitude or Royal Society to a Marines officer (Dawes) who could make observations in New Holland (Australia) which could enable getting sight of the Comet of 1592 & 1661 at its first appearance in the southern sky, 3-4 months before the European astronomers see it. Observations of current comet.

Administrative / biographical background
Nevil Maskelyne and Joseph Banks were both key members of the Board of Longitude.

Record Details

Item reference: MSK/3/1/25
Catalogue Section: Personal collections
Level: ITEM
Extent: 1 letter
Date made: 1786-10-17
Creator: Maskelyne, Nevil
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London