Caroline Herschel Rank
About Caroline Herschel
In 1786, Caroline Lucretia Herschel became the first woman to discover a comet. She was also regarded as the first female astronomer who made significant contributions to the works of her brother Sir William Herschel.
Early Life
Herschel was born in Germany to Anne Moritzen and Issak Herschel. She had nine other siblings, including her older brother William.
Works in Astronomy
In 1781, William discovered Uranus and received his knighthood. Five years later in 1786, Herschel identified an object traveling in the sky and became the first woman to discover a comet. Over the next 11 years, she discovered 8 more comets. She was officially appointed as her brother’s assistant by King George III, making her the first woman to earn a living from scientific work.
Honors
Herschel received a gold medal from the Royal Astronomical Society in 1828. She was also elected an honorary member of both the Royal Astronomical Society and the Royal Irish Academy. She also received the Gold Medal for Science award. The asteroid 281 Lucretia was named after her.
Caroline Herschel Rank
Caroline Herschel photo gallery
Viewers of Caroline Herschel, also viewed
F.A.Q. about Caroline Herschel
When is her birthday?
Caroline Herschel's birthday is on March 16, 1750.
In how many days is her birthday?
Caroline's birthday is in 328 days
How old was Caroline when she died?
She was 97 years old.
When did she die?
She died in January 9, 1848.
How old would she be today?
Caroline Herschel would be 274 years old if she was alive today.
Where was Caroline from?
She was born in Hanover, Germany.