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This item was about the Norman Robert Pogson in 1861. N.R. Pogson was appointed the government astronomer at Madras, India. When he arrived he had to work under harsh conditions. He found the instruments in a bad shape and there were no proper staff to assist him. In spite of all these he began a series of observations which terminated with his death 30 year later. He as credited with 50,000 observations most of which were published by Michie Smith after Pogsons death. During his stay in Madras he discoverd several minor planets and detected large number of variable stars. He named his daughters after the minor planets he discovered. He was also well known for his work in comets and solar eclipses.

This item was about the observations of great September comet of 1882 made on 11th September 1882. Observed from Madras Observatory by N. R. Pogson.

This item was about total solar eclipse of 18th August 1868. At Masulipatnam Pogson detected the hydrogen line emission, with a spectroscope. He saw a bright yellow line near the position of D lines of Sodium. The line originated from hitherto unknown element later termed as helium after the source of earliest detection. Hand coloured sketch of the solar spectrum during the Total Solar Eclipse of 1868. Hand coloured picture of the sun before and after the total solar eclipse 1868.

This item was about the discovery of 5 Asteroids (or minor planets as they were known at that time) Asia, Sappho, Sylvia, Camilla and Vera at Madras. The first was named asteroid 'Asia' as it was the first to be discovered by an observer on this continent. This page from Pogson's log book shows the first observations of Asia made on April 18th and 19th 1861.

The fond contain compilation of Pogson's observations and drawing