Caroline Herschel: Discoverer of Comets Dr Sheila Kanani
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Caroline Herschel: Discoverer of Comets Dr Sheila Kanani 2 June 2021 In this talk Dr Sheila Kanani combines the story of a pioneering woman astronomer, with an account of the science behind comets, asteroids and meteors. Introduction Caroline Herschel began her life in astronomy supporting the work of her amateur astronomer brother William. She was working with him when he discovered the planet Uranus. She went on to become the world’s first professional woman astronomer, her salary provided by King George III of Great Britain. The catalogue of nebulae she produced brought her the Royal Astronomical Society’s 1828 Gold Medal – the first awarded to a woman, the next gold medal awarded to a woman wasn’t until 1996, and since then there still have only been a handful. Caroline discovered 8 comets, personally discovering five of those, and she also was the second person to discovered Comet Encke. Working as a team, William and Caroline Herschel increased the number of known nebulae from about 100 to 2,500. In this Cinderella story (where the prince is astronomy, not a man!) I will give you an account of Lina’s life, showing you what a pioneering woman she was, even back in the 1700s and 1800s when being female was far more of a penalty than a success, interwoven with the science behind the astronomy she was famous for. And during this talk there will be a short demonstration of a kitchen comet, using dry ice! Links to the RAS and Me I am the first to admit that Caroline was only introduced to me about 6 years ago, when I started my job at the Royal Astronomical Society in 2014, but she quickly became a firm favourite in my storytelling, a role model in astronomy and a formidable creature to look up to. Of course, this really is said in the ‘respect’ sense of the word, as Caroline was only 4 foot 3, so even I, at a petite 4 ft 10 and a half, would be looking down on Lina, if I were ever to meet her! Caroline was trained first to be the assistant to her astronomer brother, William Herschel. William discovered the planet Uranus and was the first president of the RAS, although he never actually chaired a meeting. His 40-foot telescope was the main symbol on our logo until a few months ago when the logo was updated to celebrate our bicentenary, and Caroline was the first woman to win the RAS’s prestigious gold medal in 1828. At that time however, women were not allowed formally to be members of the RAS, so Caroline wasn’t allowed to become a Fellow, instead she shared an honorary membership with Mary Somerville in 1835, some time after she won her award. Since learning about her incredible life and astonishing astronomy, including the legacy she has left behind, I take every opportunity to celebrate her work and her life, and use her as an inspiration to all budding astronomers, from all walks of life. If one tiny, ill ridden, drudge can win a gold medal, anyone can! Beginnings Caroline Lucretia Herschel was born in the German town of Hanover on March 16, 1750, the eighth child of Isaac Herschel and Anna Ilse Moritzen. Isaac was a talented musician while Anna was illiterate and vehemently opposed to the education of girls, believing they should work only at home. Isaac became a bandmaster in the army and was away with his regiment for substantial periods of time whilst Caroline was young. The family had to move house a lot because of financial reasons, and Anna, Caroline’s mother, took on work wherever she could find it. Isaac suffered ill-health after the battle of Dettingen in 1743 and never recovered fully; he suffered a weak constitution, chronic pain, and asthma for the remainder of his life, and he was then home for longer periods of time than Caroline’s mother. Caroline suffered smallpox at age 3, leaving her face pock marked. At age 10, she suffered typhus, permanently stunting her growth. Her parents believed these physical issues would make it difficult for Caroline to find a husband, so her mother decided Caroline would learn how to do domestic chores and serve as the family house servant. Anna objected to Isaac’s attempts to educate his daughters – even opposing violin lessons. Isaac still taught Caroline directly when Anna was away from home or included Caroline secretly in her brother’s French and Maths lessons. Not being allowed to learn French annoyed Caroline particularly, because it destroyed her chances of becoming a governess, which demonstrates Caroline's aspirations. Caroline's accounts of her childhood show an intensive daily routine. Her schooling meant that she learned to read and write, unlike many women from the generation before her. It was typical of Caroline's education that this skill was immediately put to use writing letters for her mother and other illiterate army wives in their neighbourhood. She was sent to tutors after school to learn knitting and how to clean silk. Where opportunities arose to gain new skills, Caroline actively sought to capitalize on them! She was proactive even when she was young. She was taught millinery and dressmaking and she enjoyed hard work – even as a child she wanted to be able to support herself one day. The lessons she sought for herself were those that might make her appear of a higher social class and could have led to paid employment; however, in the Herschel home such ambitions were forbidden. When, for example, she had been allowed to attend these lessons in millinery and dressmaking it was under the strict agreement that it should be to make clothes for her and her family only, and not for commercial gain. To train girls for work outside the home was considered by the Herschel family very much a lower-class pursuit. In 1771 Caroline, then aged 22 years, began to wonder where her future lay. ‘I had by this time imbibed too much pride for submitting to take a place as a Ladies maid, and for a Governess I was not qualified, for want of knowledge in languages, and my father has cautioned me against all thought of marrying, as I am neither handsome nor rich’, she said. With marriage, service and teaching all ruled out, Caroline's options were extremely limited. William's offer to bring her to England to act as his housekeeper, and learn to become a singer, 2 gave Caroline an escape she could take. After Isaac’s death in 1772, William managed to persuade their mother that Caroline should join him, and eventually Anna allowed Caroline to move to England. In August 1772, William took Caroline with him to Bath. He agreed to pay his mother for a servant to replace Caroline. On the journey to England, she was first introduced to astronomy by way of the constellations and opticians' shops. During the trip, they sat atop the carriage and William showed Caroline the constellations for the first time. Escape Between 1772 and 1781 Caroline lived with her brother in Bath. There, Caroline took on the responsibilities of running William’s household, and she also learned to sing. William had established himself as an organist and music teacher at 19 New King Street, Bath, Somerset (now the Herschel Museum of Astronomy). He was also the choirmaster of the Octagon Chapel and a church organist. William was busy with his musical career and organising public concerts. Life in Bath was not easy for Caroline: she was relatively poorly educated and spoke little English. She did housework for William, who taught her English and mathematics as well as singing. Breakfast was always taken with a math lesson! Geometry she learned the hard way; if she did not know the angle of the piece of cake she wished to eat, she had to go hungry. Caroline was also given lessons in presentation, to learn how to perform and behave among the employers of musicians. This meant that she learned some of the rules of appropriate female behaviour that she would later apply in the presentations of her science. Nevertheless, it appears that Caroline did not blend in with the local society and made few friends. Because Caroline had no friends, William introduced her to two popular ladies, and arranged for them to take Lina to London. They stayed for six weeks, during which time Caroline was taken to the opera and the theatre numerous times, and to auctions and shopping. Although a little overwhelmed by the experience, and glad to be back in Bath, she did note in her autobiography that ‘to Mrs Colbrook and to the Marchioness of Lothian I am indebted for all I ever saw of the Fashionable world.’ At about the same time Caroline also learned an important lesson in self-presentation that she took to heart. She was told off for ‘being her own Trumpeter’ by a lady in Bath, and from this point on seems to have taken exaggerated steps to avoid any future accusations of boasting or bragging. Caroline took several singing lessons a day from William and within 5 years she was a notable soprano singer. She became the principal singer at his oratorio concerts and acquired such a reputation as a vocalist that she was offered an engagement for the Birmingham festival, but she declined to sing for any conductor but William. This mean that eventually people stopped requesting her and she found herself without concerts to perform in.