Bradley Finds Aberration; Cook Finds Australia; Herschel Finds a Planet and a Galaxy
This reference has good chapters on Bradley and Herschel:
Parallax, Alan W. Hirshfeld, W. H. Freeman 2001
The following links are to a an excellent series of articles in The American Scientist on the significance of the transits of Venus with particular emphasis on the adventures of observers in the 18th century,
The 18th century spawned a remarkable group of popularizers of science. The foremost of these was James Ferguson, self taught Scotsman and favorite of mine. Herschel learned his astronomy from Ferguson's book.
William Herschel's 20 foot telescope ins part of a Smithsonian Air and Space exhibit/