English Astronomers: Sirs Halley, Harrison, Herschel, and Wren

Years of astronomical study and research have brought the rich discoveries we share today. Return to the paths and sites where some of England's greatest scientific researchers once lived and worked. Enjoy the heritage offered in London and the surrounding towns of Bath, Cambridge, and Oxford with a special visit to Greenwich Observatory and the Maritime Museum.

The trip departs Tuesday, August 6, with flights to Heathrow, and the group will spend the remainder of the next day resting and adjusting to the new time zone. On Thursday, August 8, they will undertake a full London city tour, with a tour of the Tower of London’s rich history, the Crown Jewels, the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, a cruise on the Thames, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and high tea at Harrod’s in Knightsbridge.

On Friday, August 9, Editor David J. Eicher will deliver a lecture, “Comets: Visitors from Deep Space,” at our hotel in Kensington before the group heads out to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and the National Maritime Museum. There they’ll see the prime meridian of the world, the original John Flamsteed House constructed as a research facility in 1675, and many instruments, including John Harrison’s famous marine chronometer.

Saturday, August 10, will provide guests with a free day in London to do the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, the Museum of London, or a hundred other things.

On Sunday, August 11, the group will hit the road to Oxford, the intellectual city and university town, where they’ll see the Bodleian Library, Christ Church College, and the Museum of the History of Science.

The following day will see them in the countryside again as they travel to Stonehenge, the prehistoric monument in Wiltshire that dates to around 3000 B.C. Having seen the spectacular stones, the group will then continue to one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Bath, England, to visit the Herschel House and Museum. Here, in 1781, William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus from his backyard garden. They’ll then tour the Roman baths, some 2,000 years old that have drawn tourists for a long time. Tea at the Roman baths will cap off the day.

Read all of Editor David J. Eicher's blogs from the trip at www.Astronomy.com/davesuniverse.

See all images from the trip in our Image Gallery.