William Herschel

Description: (Astronomer Known for His Discovery of 'Uranus' and 'Infrared Radiation')

William Herschel was a German–British composer and astronomer, best known for his discovery of the planet Uranus. He had also been credited as the founder of “sidereal astronomy” for the study of heavenly bodies. Born and raised in Hanover, to a military musician father, William moved to Great Britain at the age of 19. He soon began his musical career, following in his father’s footsteps. His early work in music was praised by the likes of Beethoven and Mozart. He also had a keen interest in astronomy. He studied earlier researches done on the subject. Soon, he became well-versed in astronomy and made some discoveries that turned him into one of the finest astronomers of his time. He built his own telescopes, which were more powerful than the ones being made at that time. He was the first to discover the planet Uranus and two of its satellites. He was also the first man to conclude that our solar system was constantly moving. Following his impressive work, he was honored with a fellowship by the ‘Royal Society of London’ and was awarded the prestigious ‘Copley Medal’ in 1781.

Overview

Birthday November 15, 1738 (Scorpio)
Born In Germany
Alternative names Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel
City Hanover, Germany
Died on August 23, 1822
Spouse/Ex- Mary Baldwin Herschel
Parents Isaac Herschel
Anna Ilse Moritzen
Children John Frederick William Herschel
Relatives Alexander Herschel, Caroline Herschel
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