Milky Way at the dining table: Bath art show celebrates 18th-century brother and sister astronomers

From their Georgian townhouse garden in Bath during the late 1700s, a brother and sister made amazing discoveries about space. A new art show now celebrates their work and home life.

The show is in the house where William and Caroline Herschel lived and worked. It highlights their pioneering spirit.

Science at the Dining Table

Irish artist Grace Weir created the exhibition at what is now the Herschel Museum of Astronomy. She was fascinated by the science that happened there, like the discovery of Uranus. She noted it all took place in a cozy home.

Weir said, "Science does not take place in a vacuum. They would have had conversations about their discoveries across the dining table."

One of her artworks, On the Construction of Heavens, was inspired by William Herschel’s 1785 drawing of the Milky Way. Weir had a copy of this drawing embroidered onto an antique linen tablecloth. It is now on the family dining table.

Weir believes William and Caroline discussed the Milky Way's shape right there. She noted this would have been an unusual topic for that time.

In the basement workshop, where William Herschel built telescopes, Weir installed an LED digital counter. It shows Uranus's changing distance from Earth.

Caroline Herschel's Contributions

A main goal of the show is to give Caroline Herschel proper credit for her scientific work.

Detail of a print of Caroline Herschel.

William Herschel, a self-taught astronomer, moved to Bath from Germany in 1777. His sister Caroline followed, initially working as a housekeeper.

She quickly became his assistant. She recorded his findings, helped with calculations, and kept his telescopes in order. Caroline then made her own discoveries, finding eight comets. She became the first woman in England to be paid as an astronomer.

One of Weir's most striking pieces honors Caroline Herschel’s comet-spotting skills. Called An Imperfect Account, it features a piece of meteorite and obsidian shaped like one of Caroline’s worry beads.

Weir explained that William had to convince their mother to let Caroline come to Bath. He recognized her intelligence. Once she arrived, they worked together closely, pushing each other forward.

The artworks are placed throughout the house, encouraging visitors to search for them. Weir noted that people are losing the skill of close observation. She said the Herschels were masters of "long looking," a skill we are losing by constantly scrolling.

Amy Frost, a senior curator at Bath Preservation Trust, said this is the first time contemporary art has been integrated into the museum. She called it exciting, feeling like a connection through time.

The exhibition, The As-Yet Unseen, runs from September 5 until January 3, 2027. A second exhibition about the photography of William’s son, John Herschel, also runs until January.