Maria Mitchell: The First Professional Astronomer

Mary worked with the West Computers for 2 years and then she went to work with Kazimierz Kanreki. He was an engineer working on high speed wind tunnels. While she worked with him he offered her the idea to go back to school to study to become an engineer. For Mary to take classes she had to get permission. She had to obtain permission because Virginia school had not desegregated at the time. Mary got to take her classes and she became an engineer. She got to become NASA’s first African American women to have a degree in engineering in 1958.

Margaret Hamilton was the Director of software engineering of the Apollo Project in 1969. She was born August 17, 1936 she lived to the age of 80, she is sill is alive. She

Mary Jackson was born April 9, 1921, Hampton, Virginia, U.S.A. She was a math genius and an aerospace engineer. most importantly she was the first African American female engineer to work and be the first flight engineers for NASA. Mary Jackson attended school and graduated with

Charlotte Mourad is my sister, best friend, environmentalist, and, most of all, a maternal figure. But let me explain. I don’t mean this literally, but rather figuratively; as in she’s seen as motherly figure among her peers. She’s by far one of the most respected, compassionate and well-liked students in our community. Mourad is the founder and president of Earth Club for three years of Earth Club and vegetarian activist at our high school. Compassion to her means to display sympathy for her fellow classmates, but also the animals, children, and environment. She has been vegetarian for the past four years, which equates to the accumulation of the savior of about 400 animals. Every weekend, Charlotte devotes three hours to look after and educate

Noel Umbricht – Introduction to Psychology Margaret Floy Washburn, PhD Margaret Floy Washburn was born on July 25, 1871 in New York City to parents Reverend Francis and Elizabeth Floy Washburn. She was born in a time when women were not allowed to display any type of power, higher reasoning, or desire for higher education. At the age of seven, she began her educational journey in the home of a retired Presbyterian minister who lived next door to her family. In 1886, she graduated from high school at the young age of 15 years old. Upon completion of high school, she attended Vassar College where she studied Chemistry and French. However, by the time she had graduated her educational interests had changed to philosophy and science, which

Margaret (Peggy) O’Neal (who preffered to be called Margaret) was born in 1799 in Washington DC. She was the daughter of William O’Neal, who owned a thriving boarding house and tavern called the Franklin House in that same town. It was frequented by senators, congressmen, and all politicians. She

In Mae’s early life she was already interested in the aspect of science she knew she wanted to do something in that field. Although when she told her parents and peers this, they discouraged her. Although they didn’t encourage her because women equality and racism were still a little heavy, she persevered. She studied up on different type fields of science in the library, but most times on astrology. She had a dream to be an astronaut, and no one was going to stop her. At the age of sixteen she attended stanford university and got her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and African

Maria strongly supported female education. Maria believed that men and women are equal, and should be treated that way. Maria Mitchell grew up in a Quaker family, and they believe in education for both genders. So, Maria’s parents also strongly supported equal education. Maria’s father worked at a school, and then founded his own school. Maria Mitchell wanted to prove to women that their gender doesn’t stop them. She never used the excuse that she was a woman, and never assumed that she was not capable of doing something. The Nantucket Scrap Basket, a book about people from Nantucket by William Macy, said that once “A gentleman who still cherished the theory of woman’s incapacity for any attainment not purely domestic, once asked Prof. Mitchell if she did not think that the delicate organization of woman unfitted her for the irregular hours which the night work in astronomy necessitated. “Sir,” Miss Mitchell replied, in her deep masculine voice, “my mother had more night work than astronomy will ever demand of any woman. She brought up eight children” (Macey). Maria was recognized as being hard-working and determined, and therefore went on to be the first women elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Philosophical Society, and the first professor hired at Vassar College. This proved to women that females have the capability and capacity to do the same as men. “Do let us have equal rights for

One astronomer, named Harlow Shapley, believed that the Milky Way, which is the region of space in which our planet is located, was much larger than previously thought. However, he thought that because it was so big, there were no other regions of space similar to our Milky Way. Another astronomer, named Heber Curtis, believed that the Milky Way was much smaller, but that there were other regions of space similar to it. Shapley ended up being right that the Milky Way was much larger than previously estimated, however, he was wrong about it being the only region of space, also known as a galaxy. Curtis was correct that there were other regions of space, or galaxies, other than our Milky Way.

Maria Mitchell once said, “Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow.” She was a famous woman astronomer. She discovered a comet, which is now called Miss Mitchell’s Comet.” Maria Mitchell was born on August 1, 1818. She was one of

This famous scientist was born December of 1571. He was introduced to astronomy at a very young age. He was able to observe the Great Comet of 1577 at age six. He studied at the university of tübingen to become a Lutheran minister. While he was there he also studied the works of Nicolaus Copernicus, who said that the planets orbited around the sun and not the earth even though he had no evidence. Kepler did a lot of research about the planetary motion. He contacted an astronomer, Tycho Brahe, in search for notes or details that could help him with his research. Brahe invited Johannes to work with him. However, Brahe didn't want to share his notes with Kepler. When Brahe died Kepler kept his notes and observations.

Ladies were re-assessing their parts in North American culture, and her discoveries were famous among ladies and men who needed social change. Margaret Mead was a famous speaker and went ahead to advertise her work and the investigation of human sciences

I had a busy week. My Bailey book was received via ILL. I must take my librarian out to lunch for getting my book requests to me so quickly. I am reading it now and will stay up late to read more of it. He was second director of HCO and had some comments to say about Pickering’s management style and why he hired women assistants. It seems that finances and the “new astronomy”, AKA astrophysics were driving factors. I am seeing more and more that astronomical photography was a big factor. Now I am wondering if astrophysics and the advent of astrophotography were driving the “industrialization of astronomy” thereby creating a way for the women assistants to be able to do more and more in astronomy. I need to read some more about this.

Sylvia Earle was born on August 30, 1935 in Gibbstown, New Jersey. She was raised by her parents on a small farm near Camden. When Sylvia was younger she enjoyed exploring the woods that was nearby her home. She was very fascinated with the creatures and plants that lived in

HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY Astronomy is the oldest of the natural sciences, dating back to antiquity, with its origins in the religious, mythological, and astrological practices of pre-history: vestiges of these are still found in astrology, a discipline long interwoven with public and governmental astronomy, and not completely disentangled from it until a few centuries ago in the Western World . In some cultures astronomical data was used for astrological prognostication.