Contents
Caroline Herschel
Discovering comets and helping catalogue the night sky.
Comet discoveries · Stellar records
- Born
- 16 March 1750
- Birthplace
- Hanover
- Died
- 9 January 1848
More people
Caroline Herschel
Caroline Herschel was a German-born astronomer who worked in Britain alongside her brother William. Her observations and cataloguing earned recognition in her own right.
Early life
Hanover upbringing
Received limited formal education while carrying substantial household responsibilities.
Move to England
Joined William in Bath in 1772 and initially trained as a singer.
Career
- 1772
Bath
Began a new life in music and astronomical work with her brother.
- Later career
Observational astronomy
Discovered comets and helped organise astronomical records.
- 1828
Royal recognition
Received the Royal Astronomical Society’s Gold Medal.
Contributions
Comet discoveries
Discovered several comets, including the one now designated 35P/Herschel–Rigollet.
Stellar records
Contributed systematic records supporting astronomical research.
Beyond work
Learned societies
Became an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society alongside Mary Somerville in 1835.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Artistic portrait; Ölgemälde: Melchior Gommar Tieleman; Foto des gemeinfreien Gemäldes: unbekannt. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.