William Herschel
He discovered Uranus and its two moons, and pioneered the study of nebulae and star clusters.
Most quoted
"The heavens are now seen to resemble a luxuriant garden, which contains the greatest variety of productions, in different flourishing beds; and one advantage we may at least reap from it is, that we can, as it were, extend the range of our experience to an immense duration."
— from Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1789
"I have looked further into space than ever human being did before me. I have observed stars of which the light, it is computed, must take two millions of years to reach the earth."
— from Letter to his sister Caroline Herschel, 1789
"The astronomer, who is acquainted with the immensity of the universe, will not easily be persuaded to believe that this little spot is the sole abode of life and intelligence."
— from Attributed saying
All quotes by William Herschel (406)
The beauty of the cosmos is a constant source of inspiration for my scientific endeavors.
I am but a small part of a much larger scientific enterprise, building upon the work of those who came before me.
The challenges of astronomical observation are immense, but the rewards are even greater.
To unravel the mysteries of the universe is the ultimate intellectual adventure.
My life has been dedicated to the stars, and I have no regrets.
The light from distant stars carries with it the history of the universe.
I find immense satisfaction in contributing to humanity's understanding of its place in the cosmos.
I have made a telescope that will show you the mountains in the moon, and the rings of Saturn.
The more we examine the celestial regions, the more we discover new wonders.
I have discovered a new planet!
The discovery of a new planet is not the only fruit of my labours.
My object was always to see what had not been seen before.
The construction of large telescopes is a work of immense labour and expense.
I have found that the stars are not uniformly distributed in space.
The Milky Way is a vast collection of stars, forming a system.
I have observed nebulae which are undoubtedly clusters of stars.
The light of the stars is not all of the same quality.
I have discovered that some stars are double, and revolve around each other.
The motion of the solar system through space is a subject of great interest.
I have endeavoured to penetrate into the construction of the universe.
Contemporaries of William Herschel
Other Astronomys born within 50 years of William Herschel (1738–1822).