Free workshops that are out of this world

A series of free astronomy workshops have been organised to help youngsters learn about galaxies far, far away and showcase the history of the famous Herschel family.

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.

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

She later became the first woman to receive the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in 1828.

The RAS is now 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 includes 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 Eyeing the 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’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, said Lucinda Offer, education outreach officer at the Royal Astronomical Society.

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

Tomorrow (Saturday), the William the Telescope and Discovery Maker workshop will see guests 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:

ras.ac.uk/astronomyherschels