The Herschels, Astronomy & the Scientific Revolution - with Charles Draper

The work of the fascinating Herschel family - from Bath - changed our view of the extra-terrestrial world as well as challenging the idea that the heavens are solely the realm of the gods.

William Herschel was arguably the greatest of all astronomical observers. While he is most famous for the discovery of Uranus, he made advances in many areas of astronomy and science. He also made telescopes and the lenses needed for them, the largest 20 feet in diameter. He started life as a successful musician and composer, something he continued alongside his scientific work. Both his sister & his son shared his musical talents.

His sister Caroline, was also a noted astronomer. She discovered eight comets & three nebulae & became the first woman in this country to become a paid scientist & astronomer. In addition she assisted her brother in many ways, from keeping his records to helping with the production of lenses.

His son, John, also became an astronomer, as well as a mathematician, physicist & a student of scientific methodology. He knew Charles Darwin & influenced his work & may be seen as one of the first modern scientists, writing the first book in English on the Philosophy of Science in 1830.

Our speaker, Charles Draper FRAS, himself a humanist and chair of the Herschel Society, was going to be an astronomer but spent his time at university doing too many other things, and joined the MoD instead. He retired from his Whitehall career in 2009, and returned to astronomy, helping to revive Bath Astronomers from 2010, and taking over the Chairmanship of what is now the Herschel Society in 2016.

The Society was founded in the 1970s to rescue the house in New King Street where William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781. This is now the very successful Herschel Museum of Astronomy, which is run alongside other Bath Museums by the Bath Preservation Trust.

This event is FREE to Bristol Humanists members. Others we request a £5/£2 donation to help cover our costs.
Our new regular venue is The Grain House, YHA Bristol, 14 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA