William Herschel’s Followers (15)

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William Herschel

Born

in Hanover, Germany

November 15, 1738

Died

August 25, 1822

Website

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Herschel

Genre

Science, Astronomy, Music

Influences

Pierre-Simom Laplace ...more

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British astronomer Sir William Herschel, brother of British astronomer Caroline Herschel, discovered Uranus in 1781, cataloged more than eight hundred double stars and 2.4 thousand previously unknown nebulae and other deep-sky objects, and fathered British astronomer John Frederick William Herschel.

This technical expert and composer followed his father into the military band of Hanover before migrating to Great Britain at the age of 19 years in 1757. He famously discovered the planet alongside Titania and Oberon of its major moons and also discovered two moons of Saturn. In addition, he first personally discovered the existence of infrared radiation. People also know him for the 24 symphonies and many other musical pieces that he composed. British astronomer Sir William Herschel, brother of British astronomer Caroline Herschel, discovered Uranus in 1781, cataloged more than eight hundred double stars and 2.4 thousand previously unknown nebulae and other deep-sky objects, and fathered British astronomer John Frederick William Herschel.

This technical expert and composer followed his father into the military band of Hanover before migrating to Great Britain at the age of 19 years in 1757. He famously discovered the planet alongside Titania and Oberon of its major moons and also discovered two moons of Saturn. In addition, he first personally discovered the existence of infrared radiation. People also know him for the 24 symphonies and many other musical pieces that he composed.

Music led Herschel to an interest in mathematics and lenses. Making the acquaintance of the English astronomer royal Nevil Maskelyne afterward strengthened his interest in astronomy. He started building his own reflecting telescopes and would spend up to 16 hours a day grinding and polishing the speculum metal primary mirrors. He "began to look at the planets and the stars" in May 1773 and on 1 March 1774 began an astronomical journal by noting his observations of Saturn's rings and the Great Orion Nebula (M 42).

On 11 February 1800, Herschel was testing filters for the sun so he could observe sun spots. When using a red filter he found there was a lot of heat produced. Herschel discovered infrared radiation in sunlight by passing it through a prism and holding a thermometer just beyond the red end of the visible spectrum. This thermometer was meant to be a control to measure the ambient air temperature in the room. He was shocked when it showed a higher temperature than the visible spectrum. Further experimentation led to Herschel's conclusion that there must be an invisible form of light beyond the visible spectrum.

Herschel used a microscope to establish that coral was not a plant, as many believed at the time, since it lacked the cell walls characteristic of plants. ...more

Combine Editions
William Herschel’s books

Average rating: 3.94 · 17 ratings · 1 review · 78 distinct works

	Catalogue of 500 New Nebulae, Nebulous Stars, Planetary Nebulae, and Clusters of Stars; With Remarks on the Construction of the Heavens 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Scientific Papers of Sir William Herschel (Cambridge Library Collection - Astronomy) by William Herschel, John Louis Emil Dreyer (Editor) 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Story of the Herschels, a Family of Astronomers - A Celestial Legacy: The Inspiring Story of the Herschel Family's Astronomical Pursuits liked it 3.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Scientific Papers of Sir William Herschel: Volume 2: Including Early Papers Hitherto Unpublished (Cambridge Library Collection - Astronomy) by William Herschel, John Louis Emil Dreyer (Editor) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	On Nebulous Stars, Properly so Called. By William Herschel, LL.D. F.R.S. From the Philosophical Transactions really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Über den Bau des Himmels: Abhandlungen über die Struktur des Universums und die Entwicklung der Himmelskörper : 1784-1814 (Ostwalds Klassiker der exakten Wissenschaften) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2001	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Symphonia No. 4 in D Major for String Orchestra by William Herschel, Lynne Latham (Composer), William Herschel (Composer) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2010	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Symphonia No. 4 in D Major for String Orchestra - Score by William Herschel, Lynne Latham (Composer), William Herschel (Composer) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2010	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Scientific Papers of Sir William Herschel 2 Volume Set: Including Early Papers Hitherto Unpublished (Cambridge Library Collection - Astronomy) by William Herschel, John Louis Emil Dreyer (Editor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Scientific Papers of William Herschel: Account of a Comet, reprinted in Facsimile from the Philosophical Transactions for the William Herschel Society 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by William Herschel…

Quotes by William Herschel (?)

“Coelorum perrupit claustra.

He broke through the barriers of the skies.

[Herschel's epitaph]”
― William Herschel

tags: astronomy, barriers, epitaph, science, space, stars

20 likes

“I have looked further into space than ever human being did before me. I have observed stars of which the light, it can be proved, must take two million years to reach the earth.

[Having identified Uranus (1781), the first planet discovered since antiquity.]”
― William Herschel

tags: astronomy, earth, light-years, millions-of-years, science, space, stars, uranus

13 likes

“The phenomena of nature, especially those that fall under the inspection of the astronomer, are to be viewed, not only with the usual attention to facts as they occur, but with the eye of reason and experience.”
― William Herschel

tags: astronomy, attention, experience, facts, nature, reason, science

10 likes

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