Maria Mitchell
American astronomer (1818–1889) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Maria Mitchell (/məˈraɪə/;[1] August 1, 1818 – June 28, 1889) was an American astronomer, librarian, naturalist, and educator.[2] In 1847, she discovered a comet named 1847 VI (modern designation C/1847 T1) that was later known as "Miss Mitchell's Comet" in her honor.[3] She won a gold medal prize for her discovery, which was presented to her by King Christian VIII of Denmark in 1848. Mitchell was the first internationally known woman to work as both a professional astronomer and a professor of astronomy after accepting a position at Vassar College in 1865.[4][5] She was also the first woman elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.[4][6]
Maria Mitchell | |
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Born | (1818-08-01)August 1, 1818 Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Died | June 28, 1889(1889-06-28) (aged 70) Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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Awards | King of Denmark's Cometary Prize Medal (1848) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Astronomy |
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Mitchell is the namesake of the Maria Mitchell Association, the Maria Mitchell Observatory, and the Maria Mitchell Aquarium.