Introduction to John Herschel

John Herschel (1792-1871) was born in Slough, England in 1792. His father, William Herschel, was an outstanding astronomer, and his aunt, Caroline Herschel, was also a famous astronomer.

John graduated from Cambridge University in 1813 and began to study law. He soon participated in the astronomical observations and research work of his father, William Herschel, because William fell ill in 1808 and was no longer able to engage in observation. John expanded and revised his father's research plan, went to South Africa in 1834, and compiled a table of nebulae and star clusters in the southern sky within four years. He returned to London in 1838 and somewhat gave up on astronomy, but he spent several years writing a detailed summary of the Southern Sky Census, which was not published until 1847.

John Herschel's other interests included chemistry and photography (he invented many techniques related to photography, and he coined the terms 'positive' and 'negative', which are still used by photographers today) ), one of the most famous scientists of his time. He wrote a popular science book "A Summary of Astronomy", which synthesized the latest achievements in the development of the Department of Astronomy at that time. It was published in 1849 and was very popular. It was translated into many languages ??and published in many languages. It was also translated in 1859 by Li Shanlan and Wei Lie Yali. It was written in Chinese and titled "Talking about Heaven".

He was created a baronet at the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1837. He died in Kent on May 11, 1871. John Herschel, known as one of the greatest scientists of his time, never worked in any scientific research institution. He always managed to live on his own private property and engage in the research he loved. The efforts of the Herschel family ushered in the era of observational astronomy and set the stage for the development of astronomy in the 20th century.