1023: Margaret Harwood The First Female Director of the Maria Mitchell Observatory Born: 19 March 1885, Littleton, Massachusetts, United States of America Died: 6 February 1979, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America Margaret was an astronomer focused on photometry (measuring variation in the light of stars and asteroids–most notably the asteroid Eros). Margaret was the…
1022: Henrietta Swan Leavitt The Woman Who Discovered How to Measure the Universe Born: 4 July 1868, Lancaster, Massachusetts, United States of America Died: 12 December 1921, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America She is most known for discovering the relation between Luminosity and Period in Cepheid Variables. Don’t worry if that makes no sense…
“While we cannot maintain that in everything woman is man’s equal, yet in many things her patience, perseverance, and method make her his superior.” “Labor honestly, conscientiously, and steadfastly, and recognition and success must crown your efforts in the end.” 1021: Williamina Paton Stevens Fleming She Literally Did “Rewrite the Stars” Born: 15 May 1857,…
“In these days of great trouble and unrest, it is good to have something outside our own planet, something fine and distant and comforting to troubled minds. Let people look to the stars for comfort.” 779: Annie Jump Cannon Astronomer and Categorizer of the Stars Born: 11 December 1863, Dover, Delaware, United States of America…