Royal Astronomical Society to host Slough workshops celebrating famous Herschel family of astronomers

Organisers are hoping a series of free astronomy workshops showcasing the history of a famous family of astronomers from Slough will inspire youngsters to learn about the world around them.

The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is inviting families with children aged seven to 14-years-old to learn about astronomy through the famous Herschel family who made Slough their home from the late 1700s.

Astronomy through the Herschels encompasses four workshops which will take place at Slough Museum on the Slough Trading Estate on each week of May.

The workshops, championing the accomplishments of the Herschel family in both astronomy and science, have been funded by the Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) as part of the Explore Your Universe – Valuing Inclusion project.

Born in the Electorate of Hanover, the Holy Roman Empire in 1738, Sir William Herschel later emigrated to England.

After being appointed as the King’s astronomer, Sir William (who had by then been joined in England by his sister Caroline) left his residence in Bath and the family eventually settled at Observatory House on the Windsor Road in Slough, now known as Herschel Street.

Sir William is well-known for having discovered the planet Uranus and it was at his Slough residence where he built his 40-foot reflecting telescope which was the largest in the world for many decades.

Another trailblazing astronomer was Sir William’s sister Caroline Herschel who was the first female astronomer to be paid a salary and discovered eight comets during her career.

Lucinda Offer, education outreach officer at the RAS added that Caroline was also the first woman to receive the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1828.

Sir William’s son Sir John Herschel was born in Slough in 1792 and went to be become a polymath (a person whose knowledge extends across numerous different subjects) and influenced Charles Darwin’s approach to scientific research.

Sir John co-founded the RAS and his father Sir William was the first president from 1821 to 1823, Lucinda explained.

Kicking off the workshops on Saturday, May 4 will be Connecting the Dots, in which youngsters will learn about the stars, night sky, constellations and electrical circuits.

There will also be an opportunity for youngsters to make their own illuminated card and to take part in creating a circuit using people.

On Saturday, May 11, the William the Telescope and Discovery Maker workshop will see attendees learn about telescopes and some of Sir William’s discoveries, while also getting the chance to look through a telescope themselves.

During the Caroline the Comet Hunter workshop on May 18, visitors will meet Caroline, who will be portrayed by an actor, and will hear her story of being a female scientist and making discoveries.

Youngsters will also get to learn about comets and make one of their own.

The final workshop on May 25 entitled John the Polymath Influencer will see visitors meet John, who will also be portrayed by an actor, and he will share his many scientific quests.

Attendees will also get to get to try one of his inventions - cyanotypes, learn about ultraviolet light, the sun and do some chemistry.

The workshops will be 90 minutes long, led by education outreach officers from RAS, with the help of others key figures, and will take place at 10am and repeat at 1pm and 3pm on each Saturday.

Lucinda added: “We want to inspire students to learn more about the world around them, primarily, and of course astronomy is a huge gateway to other sciences.”

For more information and how to register, visit: https://ras.ac.uk/astronomy-herschels