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William Herschel
(15 Nov 1738 - 25 Aug 1822)
German-born British astronomer who initiated sidereal astronomy for the systematic observation of the heavens.
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“There is not perhaps another object in
the heavens that presents us with such a variety of extraordinary
phenomena as the planet Saturn: a magnificent globe, encompassed by a
stupendous double ring: attended by seven satellites: ornamented with
equatorial belts: compressed at the poles: turning upon its axis:
mutually eclipsing its ring and satellites, and eclipsed by them: the
most distant of the rings also turning upon its axis, and the same
taking place with the farthest of the satellites: all the parts of the
system of Saturn occasionally reflecting light to each other: the rings
and moons illuminating the nights of the Saturnian: the globe and
satellites enlightening the dark parts of the rings: and the planet and
rings throwing back the sun's beams upon the moons, when they are
deprived of them at the time of their conjunctions.”
— Sir William Herschel
(1805)
“All
human discoveries seem to be made only for the purpose of confirming
more strongly the truths come from on high, and contained in the sacred
writings.”
— Sir William Herschel
“The undevout astronomer must be mad.”
— Sir William Herschel
“... finding that in [the Moon] there is a provision of light
and heat; also in appearance, a soil proper for habitation fully as
good as ours, if not perhaps better who can say that it is not
extremely probable, nay beyond doubt, that there must be inhabitants on
the Moon of some kind or other?”
— Sir William Herschel
“I have looked further into space than any human being did before me.”
— Sir William Herschel
“The phenomena of nature, especially those that fall under the
inspection of the astronomer, are to be viewed, not only with the usual
attention to facts as they occur, but with the eye of reason and
experience.”
— Sir William Herschel
“We need not hesitate to admit that the Sun is richly stored with inhabitants.”
— Sir William Herschel
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) --