The Comets of Caroline Herschel (1750-1848), Sleuth of the Skies at Slough

TL;DR

This paper explores Caroline Herschel's pioneering work in comet discovery, highlighting her contributions as the first female comet-hunter, her public image, and the evolution of her astronomical illustrations amidst technological advances.

Contribution

It provides a detailed historical analysis of Caroline Herschel's comet discoveries and her influence on astronomy as a pioneering female scientist.

Findings

Discovered at least eight comets, five published in the Royal Society's transactions.

Her work challenged gender norms in science during her era.

Her astronomical drawings evolved with technological advancements.

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the work on comets of Caroline Herschel, the first female comet-hunter. After leaving Bath for the environs of Windsor Castle and eventually Slough, she discovered at least eight comets, five of which were reported in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. We consider her public image, astronomers' perceptions of her contributions, and the style of her astronomical drawings that changed with the technological developments in astronomical illustration.