As we explore the objects of the night sky, we often encounter the names of past astronomers who mapped or discovered the various objects. It leads us to wonder, who were these people? How did they explore the heavens and make their discoveries? When and where did they live, and what were their lives like? In many cases, the stories of the astronomers are as interesting as the objects that they discovered.
One of the best-known examples is Caroline and William Herschel. Caroline came to England in 1772 to study music and to be a housekeeper for her brother William, who was also a musician. Little did they know what the future held in store!
With Caroline as his faithful assistant, William eventually became one of the foremost astronomers of the 18th century. Together they changed astronomy as we know it, due in large part to William’s dedication and Caroline’s innovations.
Join us on Tuesday night September 2 at 9:30 pm EDT (0130 on Wednesday morning in UT) when we view some of the objects that Caroline discovered and discuss the interesting lives and many discoveries of this brother-sister team.
