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 stars are not merely points of light, but distant suns.
The universe is a boundless ocean, and we are but explorers on its shores.
The construction of the heavens is a problem that will occupy astronomers for centuries to come.
The stars are not all of the same brightness.
The universe is a place of constant change and transformation.
The discovery of new planets is a testament to the power of observation and calculation.
The sun is not a perfectly smooth sphere, but has mountains and valleys on its surface.
The stars are not all of the same size.
The universe is a tapestry of stars, nebulae, and galaxies.
The construction of the heavens is a problem that requires both theoretical insight and empirical observation.
The stars are not all of the same chemical composition.
The universe is a dynamic system, constantly evolving and changing.
The discovery of new celestial objects expands our understanding of the cosmos.
The sun is not a uniform body, but has different regions with different properties.
The stars are not all of the same temperature.
The universe is a vast and intricate mechanism, governed by natural laws.
The construction of the heavens is a problem that requires the collaboration of astronomers from around the world.
The undevout astronomer must be mad.
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.
It is not the same thing to take a view of the universe with a telescope of three or four feet in length, as with one of forty or fifty.
Contemporaries of William Herschel
Other Astronomys born within 50 years of William Herschel (1738–1822).