Caroline Herschel

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

Along with the arrival of Comet ISON I wanted to highlight an astronomer who is seldom mentioned.

Caroline Herschel discovered 35P/Herschel–Rigollet, another comet which was confirmed at its reappearance in 1939.

Caroline Lucretia Herschel (16 March 1750 – 9 January 1848) was a German-British astronomer and the sister of astronomer Sir William Herschel with whom she worked throughout both of their careers. Her most significant contribution to astronomy was the discovery of several comets and in particular the periodic comet 35P/Herschel-Rigollet, which bears her name. At the age of ten, Caroline was struck with typhus, which stunted her growth, so that she never grew past four-foot three. Her family assumed that she would never marry and that it was best for her to train to be a house servant. Instead she became a significant astronomer in collaboration with William.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Herschel

[ismnotwasm]

1. Nice

Great contribution!

[boston bean]

2. Nice, thanks for posting.