Caroline Herschel

Caroline Herschel

1750-1848, Germany
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Scientist

3 POINTS

– She discovered 8 comets.
– First woman to be paid by a government for scientific contributions.
– An asteroid, a comet, and a moon crater all bear her name.

Graphic by Simon Gurrwww.gurrillustration.com
Caroline Lucretia Herschel (16 March 1750 – 9 January 1848) was a German astronomer, whose most significant contributions to astronomy were the discoveries of several comets, including the periodic comet 35P/Herschel-Rigollet, which bears her name.[1] She was the sister of astronomer William Herschel, with whom she worked throughout her career. She was the first woman […] read more
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Caroline Lucretia Herschel (16 March 1750 – 9 January 1848) was a German astronomer, whose most significant contributions to astronomy were the discoveries of several comets, including the periodic comet 35P/Herschel-Rigollet, which bears her name.[1] She was the sister of astronomer William Herschel, with whom she worked throughout her career.

She was the first woman to be awarded a Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (1828), and to be named an Honorary Member of the Royal Astronomical Society (1835, with Mary Somerville). She was also named an honorary member of the Royal Irish Academy (1838). The King of Prussia presented her with a Gold Medal for Science on the occasion of her 96th birthday (1846).[2]