WORLD OF SCIENCE
Astronomical contributions
DR. T. V. PADMA
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Caroline Herschel was one of the first women to venture into the field of mathematics
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The Herschel family's contributions to astronomy are legendary. William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus, and his son John produced a large body of astronomical research. The work that these men did depended in part on the meticulous calculations completed by William's sister and John's aunt, Caroline Herschel. When the Royal Astronomical Society presented Caroline with a Gold Medal in 1828 in recognition of her scientific contributions, the speaker, pointed out that in addition to Caroline's impressive independent achievements, it was "she who arranged everything in a systematic order; and she it was who helped him (William) to obtain an imperishable name."
Born in the mid-18th century in Hanover, Caroline moved to England, and then back again to Hanover. Caroline was one of the first women to stride into the male-dominated realm of mathematics.
Remarkable
Caroline lacked all but the most rudimentary form of elementary education; she had no formal mathematical training. She was unable to ever learn her multiplication tables by heart, but she performed complicated astronomical computations with astonishing accuracy: not a single error has been reported in any of them. Her work was driven by her extraordinary determination and her perseverance. She also took part in the technical aspects of telescope making: grinding lenses, and polishing mirrors to perfection. Caroline's resilient and stubborn character allowed her to succeed, despite being held back by her mother until she was 22 years old.
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