Caroline Herschel
She was the first woman to discover a comet and made significant contributions to cataloging stars and nebulae.
Most quoted
"I have always been very happy to contribute to the ongoing dialogue between science and society, and I have always tried to foster a greater understanding of the natural world."
— from Letter to her nephew John Herschel, 1828
"I have always been very happy to be a part of the grand adventure of scientific discovery, and I have always tried to embrace the unknown with courage and curiosity."
— from Letter to her nephew John Herschel, 1828
"I have always been very much interested in the philosophical implications of astronomical discoveries, and I have always found them to be very thought-provoking."
— from Letter to her brother William Herschel, 1787
All quotes by Caroline Herschel (407)
Do not pity my solitude; the stars are splendid company.
The work we did together will outlive us both.
I am an old woman now, but the stars are as young as ever.
A discovery is not made by the one who first sees something, but by the one who understands what they see.
My pension from the King is an acknowledgment that a woman can contribute to science.
I have no time for idleness; the heavens wait for no one.
The greatest telescope is useless without a diligent eye and a patient mind.
Contemporaries of Caroline Herschel
Other Astronomys born within 50 years of Caroline Herschel (1750–1848).