The Scientific Legacy of William Herschel

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxv

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2. Becoming an Astronomer: William Herschel’s Journey Through an Eighteenth-Century Education

   • Emily Winterburn

   Pages 1-23

3. William Herschel and Comets

   • Woodruff T. Sullivan III

   Pages 25-57

4. William Herschel’s ‘Star Gages’ and the Structure of the Milky Way

   • Wolfgang Steinicke

   Pages 59-95

5. William Herschel and the “Front-View” Telescopes

   • Roger Ceragioli

   Pages 97-238

6. William and John Herschel’s Quest for Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life

   • Michael J. Crowe

   Pages 239-274

7. The Actions of a Well-Trained Puppy Dog: Caroline Herschel’s Modest and Useful Life

   • Emily Winterburn

   Pages 275-295

8. Accolades and Barbs: William Herschel in Poetry and Satire

   • Clifford J. Cunningham

   Pages 297-364

9. Back Matter

   Pages 365-373

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This book presents a modern scholarly analysis of issues associated with England’s most famous astronomer, William Herschel. The world’s leading experts on Herschel, discoverer of the planet Uranus, here offer their combined wisdom on many aspects of his life and astronomical research. Solar system topics include comets, Earth’s Moon, and the spurious moons of Uranus, all objects whose observation was pioneered by Herschel. 

The contributors examine his study of the structure of the Milky Way and  offer an in-depth look at the development of the front view telescopes he built. The popular subject of extraterrestrial life is looked at from the point of view of both William Herschel and his son John, both of whom had an interest in the topic. William’s personal development through the educational system of the late 18th century is also explored, and the wide range of verse and satire in various languages associated with his discoveries is collected here for the first time. Hershel worked at a time of incredible discovery, and his work is still highly regarded in the field. Here it is given a thorough investigation, putting into perspective his path-breaking career.

• Hershel and extraterrestrial life
• History of front view telescopes
• Antique scientific instruments and Herschel
• William Herschel career
• Literature on William Herschel
• Satellite orbital theory origins
• Uranus discovery
• Discovery of Uranus satellites
• John Herschel and William Herschel relationship

• Austin, USA

  Clifford J. Cunningham

Clifford J. Cunningham did his Ph.D. work in the history of astronomy at James Cook University and the University of Southern Queensland in Australia; he is an astronomer at USQ and a research associate with the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand. He has written or edited 13 books on the history of astronomy, and his papers have been published in many major journals, including Annals of Science, Journal for the History of Astronomy, Culture & Cosmos, Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage, Studia Etymologica Cracoviensia, The Asian Journal of Physics and Renaissance & Reformation.  Asteroid (4276) was named Clifford in his honor by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. He is the author of a series of books on the discovery of Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta, some titles still forthcoming from Springer.

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