Caroline Herschel, aged 92. Stipple engraving by Joseph Brown. Caroline Herschel (1750-1848) was a German astronomer and the sister of William Herschel (1738-1822). She moved from Hanover, Germany, to join him in London, England, in 1772, where both gave up careers in music to study astronomy. Although she started as William's assistant, Caroline became an astronomer in her own right, and the first woman to be recognized as one. She discovered eight new comets between 1786 and 1797. After her brother's death in 1822, Caroline returned to Hanover, where she died at the age of 98.