The Herschels and Modern Astronomy

231 Pages·2010·3.86 MB·English

by  Agnes Mary Clerke

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Physical Sciences
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The Herschels and Modern Astronomy
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.
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The Herschels and
Modern Astronomy
Agnes Mary Clerke
CAMbrIDGe UNIverSIty PreSS
Cambridge, New york, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape town, Singapore,
São Paolo, Delhi, Dubai, tokyo
Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New york
www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108013925
© in this compilation Cambridge University Press 2010
This edition first published 1895
This digitally printed version 2010
ISbN 978-1-108-01392-5 Paperback
This book reproduces the text of the original edition. The content and language reflect
the beliefs, practices and terminology of their time, and have not been updated.
Cambridge University Press wishes to make clear that the book, unless originally published
by Cambridge, is not being republished by, in association or collaboration with, or
with the endorsement or approval of, the original publisher or its successors in title.
THE CENTURY SCIENCE SERIES.
EDITED BY SIR HENRY E. EOSCOE, D.O.L., LL.D., F.B.S.
THE HERSCHELS
AND
MODERN ASTRONOMY
The Century Science Series.
EDITED BV
SIR HENRY E. ROSCOE, D.C.L., F.R.S., M.P.
John Dalton and the Eise of Modern Chemistry.
By Sir HENRY E. ROSCOB, F.R.S.
Major Rennell, F.E.S., and the Eise of English
Geography.
By CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, C. B., F.R.S., President
of the Royal Geographical Society.
The Herschels and Modern Astronomy.
By Miss AGNES M. CLERKE, Author of " A Popular
History of Astronomy during the 19th Century," &c.
In Preparation.
Justus von Liebig: his Life and Work.
By W. A. SHENSTONE, Science Master in Clifton College.
Michael Faraday: his Life and Work.
By Professor SILVANUS P. THOMPSON, F.R.S.
Clerk Maxwell and Modern Physics.
By R. T. GLAZEBROOK, F.R.S., Fellow of Trinity College,
Cambridge.
Charles Lyell: his Life and Work.
By Rev. Professor T. G. BONNEY, F.R.S.
Humphry Davy.
By T. E. THORPE, F.R.S., Principal Chemist of the
Government Laboratories.
Pasteur: his Life and Work.
By ARMAND RUFFER, Director of the British Institute of
Preventive Medicine.
Charles Darwin and the Origin of Species.
By EDWARD B. POULTON, M.A., F.R.S., Hope Professor
of Zoology in the University of Oxford.
Hermann von Helmholtz.
By A. W. ROCKEK, F.R.S., Professor of Physics in the
Royal College of Science, London.
CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED, London; Paris &° Melbourne.

SIE WILLIAM HEKSCHBL.
Etat. 50.
(From Abbott's painting in the National Portrait Gallery.)
THE CENTURY SCTENCV SEBTES.
THE HERSCHELS
MODERN A STR ON031Y
AGNES M. OLERKE
AUTHOR OP
1 A rOI'ULAK HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY DURING THE 19™ CENTURY.'
" THE SYSTEM OF THE STAHS," ETC.
CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED
LONDON, PARIS ,£• MELBOURNE
1895
ALL RIGHTS DESERVED