Caroline Herschel 1750-1848 Caroline Herschel was an astronomer and the sister of astronomer Sir William Herschel with whom she worked. Her most significant contribution was the discovery of several comets, including the periodic comet 35P/Herschel-Rigollet, which bears her name. At age ten, she was struck with typhus and she never grew past four foot three. Due to this deformation, her family assumed that she should remain a house servant. Instead she became a significant astronomer. She found 8 comets in total, including the Sculpture Galaxy. King George granted her a 50 pound salary for her work, making her the first woman to earn a living from astronomy.