Astronomy: Jan. 11, 1787: William Herschel discovers two moons of Uranus
- #news
- #headline
Figure timeline
William Herschel
Frederick William Herschel was a German–British astronomer and composer. He frequently collaborated with his younger sister and fellow astronomer Caroline Herschel. Born in the Electorate of Hanover, he followed his father into the military band of Hanover, before emigrating to Britain in 1757 at the age of 19.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
science · German-British astronomer and composer (1738–1822) · astronomer · composer · oboist · musician · physicist · also William Herschel, Frederick William Herschel, Sir William Herschel, Sir Frederick William Herschel, Herschel
Born 15 November 1738 · Died 15 August 1822 · Q14277
24 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
14 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Award
- Quote
2026· 1 entry
2020· 1 entry
Released album “William Herschel: 24 Violin Capricci (1763) - World Premiere Recording”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
2012· 1 entry
The BBC television programme Stargazing Live built a replica of the 20-foot telescope using Herschel's original plans but modern materials
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2011· 2 entries
A new bus station, the design of which was inspired by the infrared experiment of William Herschel, was built in the centre of Slough
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Was inspired by Herschel's infrared experiment
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2003· 1 entry
Released album “Symphonies”.
- #musicbrainz
- #release
- #work
1888· 1 entry
As the New General Catalogue (abbreviated NGC) of 7,840 deep-sky objects
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1828· 1 entry
Was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society for her work
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1822· 1 entry
Died 1822-08-15.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #death
1821· 1 entry
Career landmark: President of the Royal Astronomical Society (1821–1823).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1820· 1 entry
Which in 1831 received a royal charter and became the Royal Astronomical Society
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1816· 2 entries
Awarded Royal Order of the Welfs (1816).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
William was made a Knight of the Royal Guelphic Order by the Prince Regent and was accorded the honorary title 'Sir' although this was not the equivalent of an official British knighthood
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1813· 1 entry
Was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1803· 1 entry
In his Account of the Changes that have happened, during the last Twenty-five Years, in the relative Situation of Double-stars; with an Investigation of the Cause to which they are owing
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1802· 2 entries
(shortly after Olbers discovered the second minor planet, 2 Pallas, in late March), to describe the star-like appearance of the small moons of the giant planets and of the minor planets; the planets all show discs, by co
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
(2,500 objects) and in 1820 (5,000 objects)
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1801· 1 entry
Herschel reported his findings to the Royal Society and indicated five prolonged periods of few sunspots correlated with the price of wheat
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1795· 1 entry
“Nature and Construction of the Sun and Fixed Stars”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
1788· 1 entry
Awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1788).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
1782· 1 entry
“Researches on the Motion of the Sun and of the Solar System in Space”
- #wikiquote
- #quote
1781· 2 entries
Won Copley Medal (1781).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
Awarded Fellow of the Royal Society (1781).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
1738· 1 entry
Born 1738-11-15.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth