In Our Time William and Caroline Herschel
Nov 11, 2021
In this engaging discussion, Monica Grady, a planetary scientist, Carolin Crawford from Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy, and Jim Bennett, the former keeper at the Science Museum, delve into the remarkable lives of William and Caroline Herschel. They explore William's evolution from a musician to a pioneering astronomer, highlighting his discovery of Uranus and innovative telescope designs. Caroline's significant contributions, including her comet discoveries and collaboration with her brother, are also celebrated, showcasing their lasting impact on astronomy.
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Herschel's Telescope Mastery
- Herschel's dedication to telescope making involved long hours of polishing mirrors, sometimes even being fed by his sister.
- His telescopes were the best of their kind globally, enabling him to see celestial details others couldn't.
Herschel's Discovery of Binary Stars
- Herschel studied double stars to understand their distances using parallax.
- He discovered binary stars, gravitationally bound pairs orbiting a common center of mass.
Herschel's Discovery of Uranus
- Herschel discovered Uranus, a planet unseen before, doubling the known solar system's size.
- He emphasized the discovery was no accident but a result of systematic observation.