William Herschel was born in Hannover (now part of Germany) on November 15, 1738. He was a professional musician and the first person in history to discover a planet. The five planets we can see nearest the Sun had been known since prehistory. Later, as a professional astronomer, Herschel studied the stars and deep space objects to try to understand "the construction of the heavens." Assisted by his sister, he was one of the fathers of modern astronomy.

William Herschel

Astronomy no longer recognizes the "music of the spheres". Yet if heavenly bodies did make music, perhaps there are those who could hear it! Read about some individuals who've pursued astronomy and music in their different ways.

Musical Astronomers

Here is Herschel's Symphony No.12 in D, played by the London Mozart Players with Matthias Bamert conducting.

William wasn't alone in his endeavors.

Caroline Herschel was an intelligent young woman trapped in domestic servitude by her mother. Her brother William rescued her and trained her as a singer. After he discovered the planet Uranus, the two of them ended up forming a great partnership whose work revolutionized the study of astronomy.

Caroline Herschel

William Herschel had a son, John, who became Sir John Herschel and one of 19th-century Europe's most distinguished scientists. He was not only an astronomer, but also an accomplished mathematician, chemist, translator, artist, writer, and a pioneer of photography. When he died he was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey near Sir Isaac Newton.

John Herschel

In 1781 William Herschel was the first person in history to discover a new planet. He was observing in the back garden of his home in Bath, England. The house where history was made is now a museum and its Caroline Lucretia Gallery - an addition to the house - is named for William's sister, the first woman credited with the discovery of a comet.

Herschel Museum of Astronomy

The Herschel Space Observatory is the largest telescope ever sent into space. It was an infrared telescope named in honor of William Herschel who discovered infrared radiation, and his sister Caroline who worked with him. What's infrared? Who launched the telescope? What did we learn from it?

Astronomy ABC - H for Herschel Space Observatory

The Herschels were one of the greatest astronomical families of all time. A partnership of two brothers and a sister built the best telescopes of their time, and with those telescopes mapped the deep sky. They changed the way astronomers understood the heavens.

Herschel Partnership - for Kids