Drawing, figure representing stars in the Milky Way by [William Herschel]
Reference number: PT/73/6/18
Date: 1817

Description
Plate 15, figure 2 showing a simple figure of a circle (all naked eye stars) between two parallel lines (the breadth of the Milky Way). This is Herschel's demonstration that all visible stars are within the plane and therefore belong to our galaxy. The work is inscribed with publication and plate details and a partially visible pencil note 'To be reduced'. Not signed. Royal Society stamp verso.
Subject: Astronomy
Published in Philosophical Transactions as part of paper titled 'Astronomical observations and experiments tending to investigate the local arrangement of the celestial bodies in space, and to determine the extent and condition of the Milky Way' by William Herschel.
Read to the Royal Society on 19 June 1817.
- Reference number
- PT/73/6/18
- Earliest possible date
- 1817
- Physical description
- Graphite on paper
- Page extent
- 1 page
- Format
- Drawing
- Digital version available on The Royal Society Picture Library
- View
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Citation
William Herschel, Drawing, figure representing stars in the Milky Way by [William Herschel], 1817, PT/73/6/18, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/pt_73_6_18/drawing-figure-representing-stars-in-the-milky-way-by-william-herschel, accessed on 13 February 2025
Link to this record
https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/pt_73_6_18/drawing-figure-representing-stars-in-the-milky-way-by-william-herschel
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Related Publications
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Astronomical observations and experiments tending to investigate the local arrangement of the celestial bodies in space, and to determine the extent and condition of the milky way External link, opens in new tab.
Date: 31st December 1833
DOI: 10.1098/rspl.1815.0068
Related Records
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Paper, 'Astronomical observations and experiments tending to investigate the local arrangement of the celestial bodies in space, and to determine the extent and condition of the Milky Way' by Sir William Herschel
Creator: William Herschel Reference number: PT/11/24
Hierarchy
This item is part of:
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Illustrations produced for the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1807-1833
1807-1833 Reference number: PT/73 -
Illustrations produced for the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, volume 107
1816-1817 Reference number: PT/73/6
Related Fellows
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William Herschel
Artist
Explore the collection
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Philosophical Transactions
Dates: 1802-1865
The 'Philosophical Transactions' collection comprises manuscript versions of papers published in The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, the world’s first and longest continuously running journal dedicated to science.View collection