Herschel observes . . .
Herschel observes boats on the Kiel Canal
Herschel is the Hebrew name for deer. It is also a German name deriving from Heinrich, which means ‘home ruler.’
We gave Herschel his name because we live not far from Slough, where Sir William Herschel, an Anglo-German astronomer, died in 1822. He was the first person to discover a new planet while using a telescope. He wanted to call it Georgium Sidus, meaning George’s Star, or the Georgian Planet, to honour the reigning King George III.
However, the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode, proposed that it should be named after one of the classical deities, in the traditional manner. He suggested Uranus and this was ultimately accepted, almost seventy years later.
Sir John Herschel, William’s son, was born in Slough in 1792, and was a polymath. His interests encompassed mathematics, chemistry, astronomy, photography, and botany. He invented the blueprint and researched colour blindness, and named seven moons of Saturn and four moons of Uranus.
One of John’s sons, Sir William James Herschel, also born in Slough, was the first man to realise the importance of fingerprints in identification. Throughout his lifetime, he recorded his own fingerprints, to prove their unique and unchanging nature.
Interesting about the name and the information especially the fingerprints in identification.
ReplyDeleteFingerprint identification became so important and a great breakthrough in detection.
DeleteMy father in law's Yiddish name was Hersch, the suffix added to the end only to make it familial and young. So David would have been called Dovidel by his family and William would have been called Villy.
ReplyDeleteWeren't the Herschels a very talented family.
It's interesting how suffixes were added for familiarity and warmth.
DeleteThe Herschels certainly were a very gifted family.
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ReplyDeleteA deer in Hebrew is a Tzvi, a first name also given to newborn baby boys.
DeleteAre there different Hebrew names for deer? I've found Hinda and Ayalla for female deer, too. It's so interesting.
DeleteSpot on! Hinda is a female deer in Yiddish and Ayala is a female deer in Hebrew. My birth name :)
DeleteHersch is Yiddish for a deer and the suffix makes it more familial and child-friendly. My late father in law was called Hersch but in Australia the neighbours called him Harry :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a remarkable family the Herschels were.
Harry from Hersch - it's friendly, but did he mind?
DeleteThere is a reasonably well known owner of one or more retail clothing shops named Herschel, but I don't like him very much. Clearly the English Herschels were high achievers.
ReplyDeleteAs for Bode's naming of a planet, many smutty school boys thank him.
It all depends on the pronunciation . . . 😉
DeleteI did wonder about your Herschel's name.
ReplyDeleteSo, Slough is actually important after all!
Slough is not an attractive place, but useful.
DeleteAlmost seventy years to accept the naming of a planet? And in tht time no one thought of the "smutty schoolboy" jokes that would come with or from such a name?
ReplyDeletePure-minded people in those days . . . 😎
DeleteHerschel has a good example to live up to. And I am sure he has proven that in the kitty world already. I find it difficult to remember and understand how people discovered so much so long ago. Without all the tech stuff we have today. Or power equipment. What an incredible life.
ReplyDeleteIt is extraordinary how information was acquired and research conducted. Amazing!
DeleteVery interesting way for a cat to observe people
ReplyDeleteCats like watching television and can get quite excited by it.
DeleteYou put much thought into a cat's name.
ReplyDeleteWe have to fill our days somehow!
DeleteHerschel is in deep concentration mode
ReplyDeleteHe can watch for a long time . . .
DeleteWe think astronomer Caroline Herschel, younger sister of William Herschel, also deserves a mention here. She was the first woman to earn a salary as a scientist!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
I agree. She was overlooked and had much to overcome. She had typhus, was blind in one eye and never grew beyond 4'3". Despite that, she had a successful, if limited, life as a singer and astronomer. How difficult it must have been for her to succeed in a man's world.
DeleteAww Herschel is very cute.
ReplyDeleteHe's a beautiful cat.
DeleteTycho Brahe's observatory (predates W Herschel) was called Uraniborg (castle of the heavens). Any connection to later chosing Uranus for Herschel's discovery?
ReplyDeleteI had to look up Tycho Brahe and Uraniborg - thank you for the link. I can't find any link to Uranus.
DeleteHave you ever had a problem with Herschel getting excited with something on the television and clawing at it?
ReplyDeleteYes! He does sometimes try to break into the screen . . . 😺😼
DeleteI do like the photograph of Herschel watching the television, he's really concentrating.
ReplyDeleteThe Herschels were a gifted family.
All the best Jan
So much talent in one family seems a little unfair sometimes . . . or is that just envy? 😶
DeleteHerschel looks like he wants to go for a ride on one of those boats. Very interesting post, enjoyed immensely.
ReplyDeleteHe did seem intrigued by the boats.
DeleteHope Herschel enjoyed watching the boats on the canal. He seems to be concentrating very hard :-)
ReplyDeleteHe's more of a television watcher than Jellicoe.
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