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| F. W. Herschel |
Sir Frederick William Herschel (1738-1822) was an English astronomer, born in Hanover, Germany. He went to England in 1757; became a teacher of music, organist and conductor. He continued his study of mathematics and astronomy and built bis own telescopes with which to study the heavens.
In 1781 he discovered the planet Uranus for which he became famous. Herschel then devoted all of his time to astronomy and with the help of his sister Caroline carried on important scientific explorations of the sky.
He set up a powerful telescope at Slough, 1789, that had a 48-inches mirror and a focal length of 40 ft. With this he explored beyond the solar system. Herschel discovered 2,500 new nebulae as well as nebulous stars and planetary nebulae and also was the discoverer of the 6th and 7th satellites of Saturn.
His studies convinced him that the entire solar system moved through space and he determined a point toward which he thought it to be moving. Herschel died in Slough, his work being carried on by a son, Sir John Frederick William, who set up an observatory at the Cape of Good Hope.
