أنت هنا
قراءة كتاب The Story of the Herschels, a Family of Astronomers Sir William Herschel, Sir John Herschel, Caroline Herschel
تنويه: تعرض هنا نبذة من اول ١٠ صفحات فقط من الكتاب الالكتروني، لقراءة الكتاب كاملا اضغط على الزر “اشتر الآن"
The Story of the Herschels, a Family of Astronomers Sir William Herschel, Sir John Herschel, Caroline Herschel
THE STORY OF THE
HERSCHELS
A FAMILY OF ASTRONOMERS
SIR WILLIAM HERSCHEL
SIR JOHN HERSCHEL
CAROLINE HERSCHEL
"Stars
Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move;
Each has his place appointed, each his course."
MILTON.
1886
PREFATORY NOTE
rom the best available sources have been gathered the following biographical particulars of a remarkable family of astronomers—the Herschels.
They will serve to show the young reader how great a pleasure may be found in the acquisition of knowledge, and how solid a happiness in quietly pursuing the path of duty.
On the value of biography it is unnecessary to insist. It is now well understood that we may learn to make our own lives good and honest and true, by carefully and diligently following the example of the good and honest and true who have gone before us. And certain it is that the lessons taught by the lives of the Herschels are such as young readers will do well to lay to heart.
CONTENTS
The study of astronomy a source of intellectual pleasure—By contemplating the heavens, the mind is led to wonder and adore—A proof of the existence of a Creator is afforded by creation—"We praise thee, O Lord!"—The beauty of Nature—Intellectual curiosity—"Order is Heaven's first law"—Value of astronomical study
Herschel's parents—The two brothers—A musical family—An inventive genius—The brothers in England—Herschel as an organist—A laborious life—Mechanical ingenuity of William Herschel—Telescope-making—A Sunday misadventure—Constructing a twenty-foot telescope—A domestic picture—Discovery of a new planet—Herschel's combined musical and astronomical pursuits—A thirty-foot telescope—Casting the mirror—An explosion
The house at Datchet—Housekeeping details—A devoted sister—Life at Datchet—Herschel's astronomical observations—Testing and trying "eyepieces"—The colossal telescope—Miss Herschel's accident—Removed to Slough—Constructing a forty-foot telescope—Brother and sister—Heroic self-denial—Occupations at Slough—Royal liberality—An astronomer's triumphs—About the nebulae—Investigation of the sun's constitution—The solar spots, and their influence—Physical constitution of the moon—Lunar volcanoes—Arago's explanation—Herschel's study of the planets—Satellites of Saturn—Discovery of Uranus—And of its six satellites—Study of Pigott's comet and the comet of 1811—Description of the latter—An uneventful life—Herschel's marriage—His honours—Extracts from his sister's diary—Decaying strength—Herschel removes to Bath—Last days of an astronomer—Illustration of the ruling passion—Death of Sir William Herschel—His achievements
Birth and education of Sir John Herschel—Honours at Cambridge—First publication—Continues his scientific studies—His numerous literary contributions—His devotion to his father's reputation—The forty-foot telescope—Herschel's observations on the double and triple stars—On the refraction and polarization of light—Catalogue of nebulae and star-clusters—Voyage to Cape Town—Letter to Miss Herschel—Study of the southern heavens—Return to England—Distinctions conferred upon him—His "Familiar Lectures on Scientific Subjects"—His description of volcanoes and earthquakes—Continual changes in the configuration of the earth—Violent earthquakes—Phenomena of volcanic eruptions—In Mexico—In the island of Sumbawa—Herschel's theory of volcanic forces—His character
Caroline Herschel's devotion to her brother William—Her grief and solitariness at his death—Reflections on the mutability of human things—Aunt and nephew—A parsimonious government—Miss Herschel's gold medal—South on Sir William's discoveries—On Miss Herschel's devotion—Her own astronomical discoveries—Her life at Hanover—Her wonderful memory—Anecdotes of Sir John Herschel—Correspondence between aunt and nephew—The path of duty—Sir John's visit to Miss Herschel—Reminiscences of early years—A nonogenarian—A Christmas in Hanover—Last days of Caroline Herschel—Her death—Her epitaph
THE STORY OF THE HERSCHELS.
CHAPTER I.
f all the sciences, none would seem to yield a purer intellectual gratification than that of Astronomy. Man cannot but feel a sense of pleasure, and even of power, when, through the instruments constructed by his ingenuity, he finds himself brought within reach, as it were, of the innumerable orbs that roll through the domains of space. He cannot but feel a sense of pleasure, and even of power, when the telescope reveals to his gaze not only the worlds that constitute his own so-called Solar System, but the suns that light up the borders of the Universe, system upon system, sun upon sun, covering the unbounded area almost as thickly as the daisies cover a meadow in spring. He cannot but feel a sense of pleasure, and even, of power, when he tracks the course of the flashing comet, examines into the physical characteristics of the Sun and Moon, and records the various phases of the distant planets. But if such be his feeling, it is certainly tempered with awe and wonder as he contemplates the phenomena of the heavens,—the beauty of the stars, the immensity of their orbits, the regularity with which each bright world performs its appointed course, the simplicity of the laws which govern its motions, and the mystery which attends its far-off existence. It has been, said that "an undevout astronomer is mad;" and if Astronomy, of all the sciences, be the one most calculated to gratify the intellect, surely it is the one which should most vividly awaken the religious sentiment. Is it possible to look upon all those worlds within worlds, all those endless groups of mighty suns, all those strange and marvellous combinations of coloured stars, all those remote nebulous clusters,—to look upon them in their perfect order and government,—to consider their infinite number and