TABLE 2. Astronomical appropriation of ‘whirlpool’.
In the ‘Use’ column, ‘M’ indicates use of ‘whirlpool’ as a simile or metaphor, ‘D’ as a description, and
‘N’ as a name. It is sometimes ambiguous whether a use is descriptive or nominative. Only the first use
of a given type by any particular author is reported. The following codes indicate the on-line source that
led to the discovery of each example: APSO=American Periodical Series Online; Google=Google Book
Search; IA=Internet Archive; LoCAM=American Memory; MBP=Million Book Project; MoA=Making
of America; NASA=Astrophysics Data System; NYT=New York Times; Times=The Times. A ‘+’
indicates that additional information was required beyond that given by the indicated on-line source in
order to complete the entry.
Date
Source
Use
Reference and expression
M
[J.P. Nichol], ‘On some recent discoveries in astronomy’, Tait’s Edinburgh
Magazine (Edinburgh) 4, 57-64.
p. 63: Supposing the condensation of one of these portions of nebulous matter to
commence ... motion like that of a whirlpool would result.
1833
1844
M
[R. Chambers], Vestiges of the natural history of creation (Churchill, Soho).
p. 13: ... when fluid matter collects towards or meets in a centre, it establishes a
rotary motion. See minor results of this law in the whirlwind and the whirlpool—
nay, on so humble a scale as the water sinking through the aperture of a funnel.
1844
Google
M
[S.G. Goodrich], A glance at the physical sciences (Bradbury & Sodon, Boston).
p. 54: The whirlpool motion of the original nebula ...
1848
Google+
D/N
O.M. Mitchel, The planetary and stellar worlds (Baker & Scribner, New York).
p. 336 (figure caption): Lord Rosse’s Whirlpool or Spiral Nebula.
M
J.P.C. Nichols [stet], ‘The history of the solar system’, Scientific American (New
York) 4, 318.
p. 318: ... a motion of rotation somewhat like a whirlpool ...
N
O.M. Mitchell [stet], The orbs of heaven, or, the planetary and stellar worlds
(National Illustrated Library, London) .
p. 301 (figure caption): THE WHIRLPOOL OR SPIRAL NEBULA.
D
F.S. Williams, The wonders of the heavens (Cassell, London).
p. 118: Lord Rosse has also recently discovered a very remarkable specimen of
what may be called spiral or whirlpool nebulæ.
1849
APSO
LoCAM
1851
Google
1852
Google
1853
MoA
1853
MoA+
Google+
1854
MoA+
Google+
N
M
[W. Whewell], Of the plurality of worlds (Parker & Son, London).
p. 127: ... growing broader and fainter as they diverge, so as to resemble a curled
feather, or whirlpool of light.
N
N
[Anon.], ‘The story of the starlight’, The Favorite (London) 1, 137-146 & 201207.
p. 144 (figure caption): THE WHIRLPOOL NEBULA.
p. 204: ... the Whirlpool Nebula.
N
D. A. Wells (ed.), Annual of scientific discovery: or, year-book of facts in science
and art for 1856 (Gould & Lincoln, Boston).
p. 381: One of the most splendid nebulæ of the class—the Great Spiral or
Whirlpool—has been figured in the Philosophical Transactions for 1850.
N
[Anon.], Catalogue of the Educational Division of the South Kensington Museum
(Eyre & Spottiswoode, London).
p. 112: The Whirlpool, or Spiral Nebula (double size diagram, 6ft. by 4 ft.).
D
G.F. Chambers, A handbook of descriptive and practical astronomy Murray,
London).
p. 296: The discovery of spiral or whirlpool nebulæ is due to the Earl of Rosse.
D
N
J.T. Slugg (ed.), Observational astronomy and guide to the use of the telescope...
by a clergyman (Simpkin & Marshall, London).
p. 1: 51 M ... The “whirlpool” nebula of Lord Rosse.
p. 56: 51 M ... The astonishing “whirlpool nebula” of Lord Rosse.
1856
Google
1857
Google
1861
Google+
IA+
1862
Google+
1862
Google
D. Olmsted, Letters on astronomy, rev. edn (Harper & Brothers, New York).
p. 421: ... one resembling an animal with huge branching arms, and hence called
the crab nebula; and another imitating a scroll or vortex, and called the whirlpool
nebula ...
D/N
[Anon.], The home tutor (Ward & Lock, London).
p. 423: It was discovered by Lord Rosse and is termed Lord Rosse’s Whirlpool, or
Spiral Nebula.
1/4
Date
Source
Use
Reference and expression
1868
MoA+
D
J.N. Lockyer, Elementary lessons in astronomy (Macmillan, London).
p. 34: The spiral or whirlpool nebulæ are represented by that in the constellation of
Canes Venatici (51 M.).
1868
APSO
M
1869
APSO+
1873
APSO
D
M
1873
MoA
Google+
N
1874
MoA
D
M
1874
APSO+
Google+
1879
APSO
NYT
N/D
D
N
1885
E.F. Burr, Pater mundi: or, Doctrine of evolution, Second Series (Noyes &
Holmes, Boston).
p. 278: ... the most striking Whirlpool Nebula, which in a common telescope
appears as two globular mists, but at Parsonstown blazes out into an elaborate and
most magnificent spiral maelstrom of light.
J.D. Steele, Fourteen weeks in descriptive astronomy (Barnes, New York).
p. 276: The spiral or “whirlpool nebulæ” are exceedingly curious in their
appearance. The most remarkable one is that in Canes Venatici.
p. 282: ... in a whirlpool, in a whirlwind, or even in water poured into a funnel...
R.A. Proctor, ‘The past and future of our Earth’, Contemporary Review (London)
25, 74-92.
p. 77: ... manifestly corresponding in appearance to the great whirlpool nebula of
Lord Rosse ...
[Anon.], ‘Views from the rostrum. Mr Proctor on the age of the world’, New York
Times (New York) November 18.
p. 2: The first series of views exhibited by the lecturer, was ... of whirlpool and
spiral nebulæ, the initial one being of the great whirlpool nebula as shown by the
celebrated telescope constructed by Lord Rosse.
M
D. Gill, ‘Recent researches on the distances of the fixed stars, and some future
problems in sidereal astronomy’, Proceedings of the Royal Institution (London) 11,
91-106.
p. 91: ... or have they originated from chaotic matter, which, instead of forming
one great whirlpool ...
N
1888
APSO
C.A. Young, ‘The nebulæ’, Scientific American (New York) 29, 360.
p. 360: ... the whirlpool-like movement of the whole mass.
M
1885
Google+
1888
Google+
R.A. Proctor, ‘The ever-widening world of stars’, Fraser’s Magazine for Town
and Country (London) 80, 90-96.
p. 96: ... the conclusion that some of the spiral or whirlpool nebulæ really lie far
beyond the confines of our system.
A.M. Clerke, A popular history of astronomy during the nineteenth century
(Black,Edinburgh).
p. 153: The first and most conspicuous specimen is situated in Canes Venatici, ...
In the Rosse mirror, it shone out as a vast whirlpool of light ...
1885
NASA+
1887
APSO+
[Anon.], ‘Address of Commodore Maury to the cadets of the Virginia Military
Institute, on occasion of his installation as professor of physics in that institution’,
Southern Planter and Farmer (Richmond) 2, 652-658.
p. 656: ... a motion as we see in the whirlwind on land and the whirlpool in water.
D
N
N
1891
Times
M
Bog-Oak [A.E.M. Anderson-Morshead], ‘Our evening outlook. XVII. The Milky
Way and the nebulæ’, The Monthly Packet (London) 3rd series, 10, 462-470.
p. 465: One of the most remarkable Spiral Nebulæ is the great Whirlpool Nebula in
Canes Venatici.
A.M. Clerke, ‘A new cosmogony’, Nature (London) 36, 321-3.
p. 322: The great whirlpool in the Canes Venatici, for instance, betrays and records
the fall of a comet ...
C.A. Young, A text-book of general astronomy: for colleges and scientific schools
(Ginn, Boston).
p. 505: The so-called “whirlpool” nebula in the constellation “Canes Venatici” is
the most striking specimen.
[Anon.], ‘Science’, The Independent (New York) December 6.
p. 8: ... engravings of the wonderful “whirlpool nebula,” as seen in Lord Rosse’s
telescope.
[Anon.], ‘The British Association’ (Presidential address by W. Huggins) The
Times (London) August 20.
p. 5: ... the great nebula in Andromeda ... shows a sort of whirlpool disturbance of
the luminous matter ...
2/4
Date
Source
Use
1892
Google+
N
1893
APSO
N
D
J. Thornton, Advanced physiography (Longmans & Green, London).
p.257: The nebulæ are divided into groups based on their telescopic appearance. ...
4. Spiral or Whirlpool Nebulæ.
D
M. Winger, ‘The starry heavens’, Ohio Farmer (Cleveland) 89, 382.
p. 382: ... nebulae in all conceivable shapes ... circular, elliptical, ring, conical,
dumb-bell, spiral or whirlpool, and one is something like the shape of a crab ...
N
H.A. Howe, Elements of descriptive astronomy: a text book (Silver & Burdett,
Boston).
p. 277: The Great Spiral Nebula ... lies about one fourth of the way from η Ursæ
Majoris to Cor Caroli. ... It is called the Whirlpool Nebula ...
N
E.E. Barnard, ‘The development of photography in astronomy (II)’, Science
(Cambridge, Mass.) 8, 386-95.
p. 386: ... photographs ... of the ‘whirlpool nebula’ of Lord Rosse ...
N
N
C.A. Young, Manual of astronomy: a text-book (Ginn, Boston).
p. 551 (figure caption): The Whirlpool Nebula
p. 552: ... the so-called “whirlpool nebula,” 51 Messier.
N
J.M. Schaeberle, ‘The ring nebula in Lyra, and the dumb-bell nebula in Vulpecula,
as great spirals’, Astronomical Journal (Boston. Mass.) 23, 181-182.
p.182: ... structure similar to the Whirlpool nebula (M. 51) would result; ...
1896
APSO
1898
1902
Google+
IA+
1903
NASA
1905
APSO
M
D
D
1907
Google+
N
1909
NASA
D
1909
D
N
1910
APSO
A.T. Anderson, ‘The auroral display of 1892, Feb. 18, and the zodiacal light’,
English Mechanic and World of Science (London) 55, 81.
p. 81: ... some faint resemblance to the appearance of the whirlpool nebula as
represented on star-maps, ...
[Anon.], ‘Four books in astronomy’, The Critic: a Weekly Review of Literature
and the Arts (New York) 19, 362.
p. 362: ... wonderful photographs of the great nebula of Andromeda and of the socalled “whirlpool-nebula.”
1893
Google
1898
Google+
IA+
Reference and expression
N
1918
NASA+
N
1920
N
G.P. Serviss, ‘The achievements of astronomical photography’, The Outlook (New
York), April 1, 787-796.
p. 787: ... great spiral and vortical nebulæ, some resembling whirlpools and some
spinning pinwheels ...
p. 791 (caption to a photograph of M51): A “WHIRLPOOL” NEBULA
p. 794: “Whirlpool” and spiral nebulæ were known to exist before the days of
photography ...
W.F. Hoyt, ‘Scientific fallacies and frauds’, Transactions of the Kansas Academy
of Science (Topeka) 21, 229-236.
p. 233: The famous whirlpool nebula he calls “Cane’s Venatici”, but fails to
identify the Mr. Cane after whom it was probably named.
T.J.J. See, “Dynamical theory of the capture of satellites and the division of
nebulae under the secular action of a resisting medium”, Astronomische
Nachrichten (Kiel) 181, 333-350.
col. 347: ... the stars have in general resulted from the condensation of nebular
vortices, or whirl-pool nebulae ...
G.P. Serviss Curiosities of the sky (Harper, New York).
p. xvi: The amazing forms of the “whirlpool,” “spiral,” “pinwheel,” and “lace” or
“tress,” nebulæ; ...
p. 88: This form, previously known in Lord Rosse’s great “Whirlpool Nebula,”
had been supposed to be exceptional; ...
[Anon.], ‘Nature & science’, The Youth’s Companion (Boston) 84, 730.
p. 730: ...the celebrated nebula, usually called the “Whirlpool Nebula,” in the
constellation of the Hunting Dogs.
J.H. Jeans, ‘The present position of the nebular hypothesis’, Scientia (Bologna) 24,
270-281.
p. 276: Two of the best-known nebulae in the sky, the « whirlpool » in Canes
Venatici (M. 51) ...
I.M. Lewis, Splendours of the sky (Murray, London).
p. 313: Canes Venatici also contains ... the noted “Whirlpool Nebula.”
3/4
Date
Source
Use
Reference and expression
1922
MBP+
N
H. Spencer Jones, General astronomy (Arnold, London).
Plate XXII (b) (figure caption): SPIRAL NEBULA, “WHIRLPOOL” CANUM VENAT.
N
[Anon.], ‘Photographing a million universes’, The Outlook (New York) August 2,
544.
p. 544: ... the famous Whirlpool Nebula, discovered by the Earl of Rosse ...
1922
APSO
1925
Times
N
1927
NASA
N
1927
APSO+
NYT
N
1928
MBP
N
1939
NASA
N
Our astronomical correspondent, ‘Stars of the month’, The Times (London)
December 20.
p. 20: ... the Whirlpool Nebula, whose true character as a spiral was first
recognised by Lord Rosse’s great reflector ...
E.P. Hubble, ‘Exploring the depths of space’, Leaflet of the Astronomical Society
of the Pacific (San Francisco) No. 10.
p. 35 (figure caption): The famous “whirlpool” nebula, the first spiral ever
discovered.
W.J. Luyten, ‘Deeper into infinity astronomy peers’, New York Times, Magazine
Section (New York) 27 March, 8-9 & 21.
p. 9 (figure caption): The Whirlpool Nebula in the Constellation, the Hunting
Dogs.
S.G. & W.H. Barton, A guide to the constellations (McGraw Hill, New York).
p. 29: ... Canes Venatici ... in which the “whirlpool nebula”, the finest of the spiral
nebulæ, is located.
N.U. Mayall, ‘The occurrence of λ3727 [OII] in the spectra of extragalactic
nebulae’, Lick Observatory Bulletin (Berkeley) 19, 33-39.
p. 37: ... NGC 5194-5 (M51), the famous Whirlpool Nebula.
4/4