Why was William Herschel less interested in precise star-position measurements than many astronomers of his time?

William Herschel was less interested in the precise measurement of star positions—the standard practice of professional astronomy at the time—because his primary focus was on the larger construction and structural features of the heavens.1

While many of his contemporaries were occupied with the "ordinary business" of making exactingly accurate position measurements, often for applications in navigation, Herschel was driven by a desire to develop a "natural history" of the universe. He was an inventive thinker who prioritized theoretical progress and the study of distant celestial bodies, such as nebulae and the overall form of the Milky Way, over the meticulous cataloging of stellar coordinates. By shifting his attention toward the physical character of stars and the structural organization of the cosmos, Herschel helped pioneer a new "physical astronomy" that would not fully mature until the 20th century.123