Headlines of Issue No 125 (November 2003)

• The centenary in 1881 of Uranus' discovery
  Quotation from "The Centenary of the Discovery of Uranus" written by W F Denning in 1881, who was an amateur meteor observer and good friend of A S Herschel, W Herschel's grandson.
  
  
• Japan's first Herschel tour in 1981
  Please read the "Main article of the issue".
  
  
• W F Denning (1848-1931) and A S Herschel (1836-1907)
  Relationship of W F Denning and A S Herschel.
  
  
• Reproduction of the 7ft Herschel speculum (3)
  Contribution by Mr Y Ogane, a Society member, who challenges to reproduce a metal speculum.
  
  
• 20 years with Elizabeth and Leslie Hilliard (5)
  A serial by Mr Seiji Kimura, the General Secretary of the Society.
  
  
• Michael Hoskin edits "Caroline Herschel's Autobiographies"
  Prof M Hoskin edited and published Caroline's two autobiographies.
  
  
• New subscriber membership of the Toranomon Astronomers' Hall
  New membership to support the Toranomon Astronomers' Hall.
  
  
• Reports in the committee meeting of WHS
  About the annual lecture on 26th March, 2004 and the cloisonné exhibition in Bath Central Library.
  
  
• The third annual convention of the Lowell Society of Japan
  
  
• Prof J B Burnell of Bath University visits Japan
  A lecture and dinner was held to welcome Prof Burnell, who is a discoverer of a pulsar.
  
  

Main article of the issue

Japan's first Herschel tour in 1981

The Herschel Society of Japan will celebrate the 20th anniversary in next November. Little about the beginning of the Society has been published in our newsletter until now, but it is time to look back at our start.

In 1981, which was the bicentenary of discovery of Uranus, Herschel Museum was opened, and commemorative lectures and concert were held in UK. To order to take part in these events, two Japanese amateur astronomers went on a journey around Bath and London. They on the return flight dreamed of organizing a society to study achievements and lives of the Herschel family. Travel sketches appeared in magazines first, and "The Dawn of the Modern Astronomy" was published in book form a year after.

Then we were busily engaged in establishing the organization in astronomical meetings and magazines. The inaugural assembly of the Herschel Society of Japan was held with broad support in November, 1984. Dr C Sugawa, the Society's first chairman received congratulatory messages from UK and South Africa as well. This was the dawn of the first Japanese organization named after an astronomer. The followings are the captions of the above-mentioned travel sketches.

• 'William Herschel Museum' by Seiji Kimura and Hiroshi Saida in "Tenmon Geppo" (The Astronomical Monthly) Commemorative lectures of BAA and JAS
• Special exhibition in Old Royal Observatory Greenwich
• Commemorative concert
• Herschel's life in Bath
• Herschel Museum

'Visit to Herschel in UK' by Seiji Kimura in "Hoshi-no Techo" (Star Notebook) Astronomical week in bicentenary of discovery of Uranus

• Hearing symposium
• Memorial concert for Herschel
• Visit to Herschel House

* This issue contained the article of four pages in colour titled "Herschel Museum open in bicentenary of discovery of Uranus".

For the 20th anniversary of our Society, I would like to carry photographs of our activities such as tours and annual meetings in colour pages of coming issues. Your contribution of photographs would be appreciated.