William Herschel
By Illa Vij

WILLIAM Herschel, the man who discovered Uranus, was born in Germany in 1738. His father was a musician in the army and in his early years Willam heard a great deal of music. He had a happy childhood, despite limited money and food. Off duty hours his father made all his children stand around him and gave each of them an instrument to play. He believed that even if everything else failed, music could atleast give them a means of earning their living. The devoted father also took the children outdoors, watching and appreciating nature, especially the stars.

After school, he also helped them with their studies. As a young boy William entered the Guards as oboeplayer. He spent four years in the army. Due to his frail health, he was compelled to leave the army. He went to England with the hope of earning a living. Since he could speak English well and play the violin, organ and oboe, he was confident of doing well. One day he played in front of Dr Miller, a noted organist of Durham. Miller was so impressed by William that he invited William to live with him. Very soon William began playing in concerts in Durham and also taught many pupils.

His compositions were published and well accepted by the public. He also became the organist of one of the leading churches in Bath. It was in Bath that Herschel came across a book on astronomy. He read it thoroughly and very soon his interest was diverted to astronomy. Since he had no telescope to use, he studied mathematics which was important to know, to design a telescope.

He made a design and then began constructing the telescope. He made further improvements and began enjoying the study of stars. He worked carefully and thoroughly. His brothers and sisters, who had begun living with him, also began making telescopes.

The house soon turned into a workshop, full of stands, tubes and mirrors. He became so absorbed in the study of stars that even between the acts of public concerts he would rush out to watch the sky!

His sister had to often stand by his side and feed him while he continued his work. He produced good telescop and sold them to add to his income. A clear night often kept him awake all night. He noticed the appearance of a white spot near each of the poles of the Mars.

He concluded that like the poles of the Earth, the white patches were probably snow. One night he noticed a star with a strange appearance. It stood out against the stars around it.

It was larger in size, did not twinkle as others did and seemed to change its place. He was sure that he had found a new comet. When other astronomers of Europe turned their telescopes to it, it was found that it did not move in a long orbit as other comets did.

Instead, it was travelling in a path almost round like the Earth and other planets. Soon, it was agreed that Herschel had discovered a new planet. Many honours were showered upon him.

He wished to name the new planet after King George III, but the other astronomers did not agree. They felt that the new planet also must bear a name of the old Greek gods, like the other planets. Finally, it was named Uranus. Uranus had been discovered on 13 March, 1781.

The king appointed Herschel Astronomer-Royal. Next, he built a massive telescope which was 40 feet long with a lens four feet across. This aided him in his astronomical works. He studied Saturn and its moon. Saturn was known to have five moons, but he found that it had seven moons. He also found that Uranus had two moons. Herschel made many other significant studies related to the stars.

At the age of 89, he died in 1822.