William Herschel Quotes

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"Does it not seem natural that these observations should cause a strong suspicion that most probably every star in the heavens is more or less in motion?" For though their proper motions could not cause all these changes, yet we may well suppose that motion is in some way concerned.

William Herschel
In the old Telescope's tube we sit, And the shades of the past around us flit.

William Herschel
We are told that we gain nothing by magnifying too much. I grant it; but shall never believe I magnify too much till by experience I find that I can see better with a lower power.

William Herschel
From these observations I believe it is evident that the height of the lunar mountains in general is greatly overrated; and that when we have excepted a few, the generality do not exceed half a mile in their perpendicular elevation.

William Herschel
The spots on Mars are of a different nature. Their constant and determined shape, as well as remarkable color, show them to be permanent, and fastened to the body of the planet.

William Herschel
The subject of the Construction of the Heavens is of so extensive and important a nature, that we cannot exert too much attention in our endeavors to throw all possible light upon it.

William Herschel
That planet has a considerable but moderate atmosphere. So that the inhabitants probably enjoy a situation in many respects similar to ours.

William Herschel
We may strongly suspect that there is not, in strictness of speaking, one fixed star in the heavens, and reasons which I shall adduce will render this so obvious that there can hardly remain a doubt of the general motion of all the starry systems, and, consequently, of the solar one among the rest.

William Herschel
It has generally been supposed that it was a lucky accident that brought this new star to my view; this is an evident mistake. In the regular manner I examined every star of the heavens, not only of that magnitude but many far inferior, it was that night its turn to be discovered.

William Herschel
The reason why this [diurnal motion] has not been looked into is probably the difficulty of finding a proper standard to measure it by; since it is itself the standard by which we measure all the other motions.

William Herschel
The sun is the celestial body which should first attract our notice, not only on its own account but since the fixed stars are, by the strictest analogy, similar bodies.

William Herschel
I have looked farther into space than ever human being did before me. I have observed stars of which the light, it can be proved, must take two millions of years to reach this earth!

William Herschel
We need not hesitate to admit that the Sun is richly stored with inhabitants.

William Herschel
A little practice in this business [looking through a telescope] soon makes it easy, especially to one who has already been used to look with both eyes open.

William Herschel
While every one of the motions of the earth that arise from the actions of the sun, moon, and planets, etc., have been investigated by astronomers, there is one motion which has hitherto escaped the scrutiny of observers - the diurnal rotation round its axis.

William Herschel
He broke through the barriers of the heavens

William Herschel
I will make such telescopes and see such things!

William Herschel
Since stars appear to be suns, and suns, according to the common opinion, are bodies that serve to enlighten, warm, and sustain a system of planets, we may have an idea of the numberless globes that serve for the habitaton of living creatures.

William Herschel
When an object is once discovered by a superior power, an inferior one will suffice to see if afterwards.

William Herschel
Familiar objects and events are far from presenting themselves to our senses in that aspect and with those connections under which science requires them to be viewed, and which constitute their rational explanation.

William Herschel
The power of penetrating into space by telescopes is very different from magnifying power, and ought to be considered separately.

William Herschel
As an apology for this prematurity it may be said that the end of all discoveries being communication, we can never be too ready in giving facts and observations, whatever we may be, in reasoning upon them.

William Herschel
It is sometimes of great use in natural philosophy to doubt of things that are commonly taken for granted; especially as the means of resolving any doubt, when once it is entertained, are often within our reach.

William Herschel
As observations, carefully made, should always take the load of theories, I shall not be concerned if what I have to say contradicts what has been said in my last paper.

William Herschel
The influence of this eminent body [the sun], on the globe we inhabit, is so great, and so widely diffused, that it becomes almost a duty for us to study the operations which are carried on upon the solar surface.

William Herschel
If I should mention any observations that are difficult to be verified I beg the indulgence of observers. I hope it will be found that I have sufficiently guarded against optical illusions, and that I have all along had truth and reality in view as the sole object of my endeavors.

William Herschel
Suppose an inhabitant of the moon who has not properly considered such analogical reasonings as might induce him to surmise that our earth is inhabited, to give it as his opinion that the use of the earth is to illuminate the moon, when direct daylight cannot be had, etc.

William Herschel
On the 15th of February, 1786, I discovered that one of my planetary nebula, had a spot in the center, which was more luminous than the rest, and with long attention, a very bright, round, well defined center became visible. I remained not a single moment in doubt, but that the bright center was connected with the rest of the apparent disk.

William Herschel
We see it [the probable new planet] as Columbus saw America from the shores of Spain. Its movements have been felt trembling along the far-reaching line of our analysis with a certainty hardly inferior to that of ocular demonstration.

William Herschel
If we indulge a fanciful imagination and build worlds of our own, we must not wonder at our going wide from the path of truth and nature; but these will vanish like the Cartesian vortices, that soon gave way when better theories were offered.

William Herschel