Caroline Herschel - Enlightenment

This is an interview with the scientist named Caroline Lucretia Herschel who was the first woman to ever discover a comet.

Anna: Hello Ms. Herschel! Is it alright if I ask you some questions?

Caroline: Well I certainly don't see why not.

Anna: Okay my first question is, were there any events in your early life that might have sparked your interest in science?

Caroline: When I was a young girl, my mother never wanted me to get an education. All she wanted was for me to be her house servant. I was struck with typhus at ten years of age which caused me to stop growing at four foot three. My father always told me that because of my condition I would never marry and I would grow to only be an old maid. So unfortunately, in my younger years I never got the chance to be involved much with science.

Anna: Awh that is a terrible thing, but I heard that later on your brother William Herschel played a part in your love for science and your discoveries. Is this true?

Caroline: Oh yes! William was a huge helper! When I first moved in with him, I was just a housekeeper and singer for William. But then, I became his apprentice at his telescope making business. Most of my astronomical work was with helping William by writing down his observations that he made looking up at that beautiful night sky. But besides that, I observed also on my own.

Anna: What were your major accomplishments as a scientist, Ms. Herschel?

Caroline: Some major accomplishments I made during my life as an astronomer were discovering three new nebulae in 1783 and between 1786 and 1797 I also discovered eight comets. On my 96th birthday I was awarded the King of Prussia's Gold Medal of Science for my many achievements.

Anna: What were your limitations as a scientist?

Caroline: Well, I am a woman, and it's not very common in the 1700's for a woman to be involved with science. But I had a love for astronomy, thanks to my lovely brother. Also, with my condition, nobody ever thought I would be more than a maid. I sure proved them wrong!

Anna: During your time period, what other discoveries in astronomy were being made?

Caroline: Oh there were many! Giovanni Cassini discovered four satellites of Saturn and measured the rotation periods of Mars and Jupiter, John Flamsteed made a catalog of 3000 stars, and there also many others. Better telescopes were being manufactured, which led to many discoveries in our night sky.

Anna: What were your ideas on philosophy and religion at your time?

Caroline: I never really got that involved with either of those. I was mostly focused on discovering what other remarkable things were out in the universe!

Anna: What major cultural, economic, and political situations were taking place during the time of your work?

Caroline: Well in 1700's to 1800's, new foods began to enter the German cuisine. French influence was taking a big role with everything to do with food and drink. Also, in the early 1800's the Germans didn't have a well established political or economic system. Many people from Germany and Switzerland began settling in America.

Anna: Ms. Hershel, were there any famous artists, musicians, or writers who were working at the same time and in the same country as you while you were alive?

Caroline: Of course! My brother William Herschel was a composer in music himself. Johann Sebastian Bach was also a wonderful composer. An artist who made beautiful works of art was Caspar David Friedrich. The Brothers Grimm wrote folk and fairy tales.

Anna: What were the basic demographics of Germany during the time you were working?

Caroline: During my time, there were about 25 million people living in Germany. This isn't very much compared to the population of Germany at later dates.

Anna: How were gender and class roles defined during your time?

Caroline: Women during my time would usually stay home and be a housekeeper. Women were thought to not be as bright as men and were not supplied with the education that males had. Also, people in the lower classes were not thought highly of either. Usually only males who were in a high class got a good education and were looked up upon.

Works Cited for Interview Questions:
Mrs. Urbaitis, every time I try to post my works cited, it deletes the end where the website is. I don't know why it's doing that, but I have them on the page I printed off.

"Astronomy: Post-Newtonian Astronomy." Astronomy Program at Washington State University. Web. 06 Apr. 2010.

"Caroline Herschel (1750-1848)." SEDS. Web. 05 Apr. 2010.

"Caroline Herschel." Agnes Scott College - A Private, Liberal Arts Women's College in Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Web. 05 Apr. 2010.

"Caroline Herschel." StarChild: A Learning Center for Young Astronomers. Web. 06 Apr. 2010.

"Caspar David Friedrich Bio -- German Romantic Painter Caspar David Friedrich." Art History Resources for Students, Enthusiasts, Artists and Educators - Artist Biographies - Art Timelines - Images and Picture Galleries. Web. 06 Apr. 2010.

"Famous People from Germany: Famous Artists, Athletes, Politicians, and Musicians from Germany." Day Translations, Inc. - Professional Translation Services. Document Translation of All Languages. Web. 05 Apr. 2010.

"File:Population of German Territories 1800 - 2000.JPG." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 06 Apr. 2010.

"German and Swiss Settlers in America, 1700s-1800s : Genealogical Publishing Company." Genealogy Books, Genealogy CDs and Family History - Genealogical.com. Web. 05 Apr. 2010.

"German Food and Culture." Food and Culture Resources. Web. 06 Apr. 2010.

"Grimm Brothers Biography - Children, Death, History, School, Old, Information, Born, Time, Year." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Web. 06 Apr. 2010.

Caroline Herschel - Enlightenment

Monday, April 5, 2010

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