This website provides a background on the discoverer of infared light--Sir Frederick William Herschel. A version of the experiment Herschel conducted in the 1800s is provided as well.

An image of William Herschel.

Sir William Herschel, famous English astronomer

A portrait of John Frederick William Herschel from the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, made available through the Smithsonian Institution's Scientific Identity Collection.

A portrait of William Herschel from the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, made available through the Smithsonian Institution's Scientific Identity Collection.

A portrait of John Frederick William Herschel from the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, made available through the Smithsonian Institution's Scientific Identity Collection.

A portrait of William Herschel from the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, made available through the Smithsonian Institution's Scientific Identity Collection.

A portrait of John Frederick William Herschel from the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, made available through the Smithsonian Institution's Scientific Identity Collection.

A portrait of John Frederick William Herschel from the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, made available through the Smithsonian Institution's Scientific Identity Collection.

Hour One of Hunting the Edge of Space, "The Mystery of the Milky Way," includes information on the Milky Way and chronicles the history of telescopes from Galileo's time to today's planet-searching telescopes. Hour Two, "The...

A collection of articles and interactives on the topic of telescopes and what we have learned from them about the universe, including information about some of the strangest phenomena. One section discusses the giant telescopes of the...

Part of a larger site on the Solar System, this page offers an image of Uranus and information about its discovery, size, orbit, and atmosphere. Follow links in the left margin to read more about the planet's composition, rotation, and...

Read brief biographies of astronomers who are grouped by time period.

This site from the encyclopedia Wikipedia provides an in-depth timeline of important events in astronomy relating to the solar system are presented here. Links are also provided for additional information on related subjects.

A chronology of Solar System discoveries made from before the 1600s to now.

(1738-1822) German astronomer who discovered the planet Uranus in 1781 and was appointed astronomer to King George III of England. He was knighted in 1816.