Friday, July 27, 2018

Herschel Museum of Astronomy

21 July 2018, Saturday

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy was an interesting look into the home and life of William Herschel and his sister Caroline Herschel.  The duo turned the home into a workshop for astronomy, and they assembled large, precise telescopes and meticulously surveyed the night sky from the back garden.  They are credited with many space discoveries, including the discovery of the planet Uranus in 1781.

William Herschel's first career was as a musician and composer, and he also enjoyed tinkering with musical instruments.  He eventually became the Court Astronomer for King George III, and he built telescopes at royal residences, and received royal funding to build bigger telescopes.  After his death, Caroline continued to publish their scientific observations and became famous in her own right.


Herschel Museum of Astronomy, in Herschel's home on New King St


Models of Herschel's telescopes


In the basement kitchen

Garden workshop, where Herschel created his mirrors and telescopes

Photo by C

Back of Herschel's home, and the garden
where Uranus was discovered

Herschel's diaries

Distinguished men of science in 1807


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