Uranus Discovered by William Herschel in 1781

Portrait of William Herschel

Astronomer Sir Frederick William Herschel on March 13, 1781 discovered the planet Uranus.He also later in his career discovered infrared radiation while testing telescope filters.

His sister Caroline, who worked as his assistant, discovered eight comets and three nebulae. Her work was acknowledged by the Royal Astronomical Academy.

The Libraries has portraits of Herschel in its online collection, Scientific Identity: Portraits from the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology.

—Elizabeth Periale