The Herschels and Modern Astronomy

A biography of three members of the Herschel family with an analysis of their contributions to astronomy.

Agnes Mary Clerke (Author)

9781108013925, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 May 2010

236 pages, 3 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 1.4 cm, 0.31 kg

The Herschels in this biography are Sir William Herschel (1738–1822), his sister Caroline (1750–1848) and Sir John Herschel (1792–1871), William's son. Sir William was an astronomer and telescope-maker who discovered the planet Uranus in 1781. He was appointed 'the King's astronomer' to George III in 1782, and under his patronage built the then largest telescope in the world. Caroline Herschel worked as her brother's assistant for much of his career but was also an accomplished astronomer in her own right, discovering eight comets and producing a catalogue of nebulae. Her nephew Sir John Herschel was also a distinguished astronomer who made many observations of stars in the southern hemisphere. This book by the astronomer and writer Agnes Clerke (1842–1907), published in 1895, provides both an analysis of their work and an assessment of its contribution to later astronomical research.

Preface
1. Early life of William Herschel
2. The King's astronomer
3. The explorer of the heavens
4. Herschel's special investigations
5. The influence of Herschel's career on modern astronomy
6. Caroline Herschel
7. Sir John Herschel at Cambridge and Slough
8. Expedition to the Cape
9. Life at Collingwood
10. Writings and experimental investigations
Index.

Subject Areas: Solar system: the Sun & planets [PGS]