The First Women to Discover a Comet

When we speak of science and the involvement of women in science, usually only one name dominates the conversation, Marie Curie. Well, this is all because she not only discovered two elements (radium and polonium), but she was also the first women to be awarded a Nobel Prize, in 1903, and was the first person to win a second Nobel, in 1911.But even before Marie Curie, there were many women who had dedicated their lives to science and made significant advances in the science field.

Born in Hanover, Germany on March 16, 1750, Caroline Herschel was fifth of six children. Her dad, Isaac Herschel gave her rudimentary education despite her mother’s disapproval.

Caroline suffered a childhood disease which left her left eyes slightly disfigured. She was also diminutive in terms of her height due to Typhus. Both her parents felt that she was not fit to be married and that she could only be a maid. When Caroline was 22, her brother Frederick William rescued her by taking her along with him to England. William had already moved to England seven years earlier and made a name for himself as a musician. In England, Caroline was taught music by her brother.

When William turned his eyes to astronomy, Caroline became his assistant. It is also said that Caroline made all the complicated calculations for her brother’s observation. He also quit his job as conductor and devoted his time to astronomy.

After the arrival of Caroline, William too notoriety flourished in England as a great telescope maker. Caroline then, began to help her brother. She spent long hours grinding and polishing the mirrors they used to collect light from distant objects. At the age of 32, she became an apprentice to her brother. She was soon becoming of greater use to her brother. Frequently, when he would leave on business, she would take over in his place. King George III also gave her a pension of fifty pounds. This was the first time that a woman was recognized for a scientific position.

Her first accomplishments were the detection of three nebulae in 1783, with a small telescope which William gave her to look for comets. And between 1786 and 1797 she discovered eight comets. Caroline's first experience in mathematics was her catalogue of nebulae. One interesting fact is that Caroline never learned her multiplication tables. It is said that she studied them so late in life, that she never got a hold on them. Therefore, she carried a table on a sheet of paper in her pocket whenever she worked.

Caroline, who lived to be ninety-eight catalogued each and every discovery that she and William had made and amassed them into a publication. She sent it to the scientific community in England, and they proclaimed her an honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society and the Royal Irish Academy. Germany honoured her as well. The King of Prussia gave her the Gold Medal of Science for her life's accomplishments on her ninety sixth birthday.

Adapted from Bio.