Talk:William Herschel

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1 comment
2 Georgian planet
3 Sun theory
4 Herschel region?
5 Categ Astronomy People
6 William Frederick or Frederick William?
7 Garnet star
8 Vandalism
9 Discovery of IR
10 Sunderland
11 Place of Burial
12 satelites of saturn and uranus
13 Polish?
14 English!
15 wheat prices
16 Barnard's Loop under IR discovery?
17 Discoverer of Uranus

[edit] comment

Would it perhaps make sense to say that he inferred the existence of an invisible form of light, rather than of energy? Michael Hardy 00:36 Apr 13, 2003 (UTC)

I agree. "Invisible light" is better, or "calorific rays" as I believe Herschel called the phenomenon. --HSag 20:06, 9 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Georgian planet

Although HM Nautical Almanac Office continued to use the "Georgian" name in its tables until 1850, most astronomers had long since adopted the name Uranus. And non-British astronomers had never accepted "Georgian" in the first place. French astronomers called it "Herschel". German-speaking astronomers adopted the name Uranus soon after its discovery, and French astronomers gradually did so too.

The discovery and naming of Neptune a few years before 1850 finally prompted the Nautical Almanac to "get with the program". If more detail about "Georgian" naming issues is needed, it should probably go on the Uranus page rather than here. Curps 00:11, 3 Jun 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Sun theory

remember we're all crazy but crazy people go along way...... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.110.226.94 (talk) 02:56, 31 March 2008 (UTC)

Somebody added the following: He was known for eccentric theory that the Sun was inhabited. Is this true? The Singing Badger 21:36, 8 Dec 2004 (UTC)

I added that, and I believe it is true. Google "Herschel Sun inhabited" for various references. -- Curps 07:21, 9 Dec 2004 (UTC)

It is undoubtedly true that he believed it. It is not, however, true that it was an eccentric theory at that time, in the then prevailing state of astronomical knowledge.RachelBrown 22:46, 22 Apr 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Herschel region?

Does anyone know who coined the term "Herschel region", meaning parts of the near infrared spectrum between 700nm and 2500nm? I have seen it used in some near infrared spectroscopy papers.

Well since that's near IR I assume its the region he observed. Dunno where the name came from mind, I've never seen it used Modest Genius ^talk 22:49, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Categ Astronomy People

I've reverted the category Astronomy People since it describes people 'associated with astronomy who were not themselves astronomers'. Clearly, William Herschel was in the first ranks of astronomers. Hence removing the category. Ian Cairns 12:39, 14 Feb 2005 (UTC)

[edit] William Frederick or Frederick William?

The name is written both ways, so which is it? Also is the supposed name change anything more than Anglicizing his German name as Handel did, i.e. is it a real name change? Dabbler 11:57, 23 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Garnet star

Isn't there also Herschel's Garnet Star in Cepheus, one of the biggest known red giants? - Emt147 ^Burninate! 19:41, 11 January 2006 (UTC)

In retrospect (now that my brain is in gear again), Mu Cephei was discovered by Herschel, not named after him. I'll show myself out. :P - Emt147 ^Burninate! 04:34, 12 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Vandalism

Can someone explain to me what makes poor Sir Herschel such a tempting page to vandalize with random nonsense? - Emt147 ^Burninate! 20:38, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

It's Herschel or Sir William, never Sir Herschel.

[edit] Discovery of IR

I've added a note about this to the leader. From a scientific point of view it is at least as important as the discovery of Uranus, despite being less glamorous Modest Genius ^talk 22:48, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Sunderland

Sunderland says Herschel is a famous resident of Sunderland; could someone who can provide more detail do so in this article? --Greg K Nicholson

[edit] Place of Burial

Where was Herschel buried? this article says he rests in St. Laurence's Church in Upton, but I arrived at this article from the article on Charles Darwin which said "In recognition of Darwin's pre-eminence, he was buried in Westminster Abbey, close to William Herschel and Isaac Newton." Which is correct?

I have added a similar note to the Darwin article's discussion page.—Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.69.105.44 (talk • contribs)

Thanks again: the Darwin reference should have been to John Herschel, William's son, and that must have got mixed up at some point. I've corrected it as confirmed on the Darwin talk page. ..dave souza, talk 08:11, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] satelites of saturn and uranus

would it not be better put to refer to these moons as moons rather than the less understood term satelites?

69.54.12.10 23:11, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Polish?

The polish version of the page appears to have been substituted for the English version. Not good for a featured page. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Bigmac31 (talk • contribs) 18:09, 13 March 2007 (UTC).

[edit] English!

That's better Bigmac31 18:51, 13 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] wheat prices

can someone please expand on Herschel's recognition of a connection between sunspot cycles and wheat prices Remcee 23:02, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Good idea. I understand that this constituted his discovery of what's today called global warming. I'll see if I can pry some spare time loose from my vast time vaults, the door of which seems currently stuck. Snezzy (talk) 17:00, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Barnard's Loop under IR discovery?

Under the Discovery of infrared radiation heading, there is a second paragraph discussing "Barnard's Loop". This seems to be entirely out of place, and only tangentially related to William Herschel. I propose the entire paragraph be deleted. Noca2plus (talk) 16:54, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

Done. Noca2plus (talk) 15:56, 31 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Discoverer of Uranus

Was just reading the page and found a little vandalism someone may want to fix. At the end of the paragraph entitled, "Discoverer of Uranus", some rather vulgar and unrealted material will be found. Thought i would throw that out there for the clean up crew. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.162.54.229 (talk) 07:23, 16 April 2008 (UTC)