Herschel's Xmas Tree
This is the Cone Nebula and the Chrismas Tree Cluster were discovered by William Herschel, in 1785.
Herschel's observations and discoveries are numerous. He observed sunspots and confirmed the gaseous nature of the sun. He discovered not only the planet Uranus, but two of its moons, and also two of Jupiter's moons.
His principal works were on stars. Two discoveries of primary importance is the movement of the solar system through space and the evidence that binary stars move around a common center of gravity. He discovered nearly 1,000 double stars.
In 1785 he brought out the disc theory of the stellar system, anticipating the shape of our own galaxy. Herschel believed that all nebulae are clusters of stars which he called island nebulae.
He also discovered the infrared range of sunlight. Sir William Herschel died in Slough, England on August 25, 1822.
With this image I wish you all happy hollidays.
